2ukenkerl wrote:
Apparently the fastest fighter jet in the world is SOVIET, and IT only goes at MACH 3.2! So that new weapon goes over 3 times as fast.
A few things, the fighter variant is slower than the recon variant, which is the version that's been recorded exceeding Mach 3; it also destroys the engines when flying that fast, so they're restricted to ~Mach 2.8 operationally.
Quote:
The MiG-25 was theoretically capable of a maximum speed exceeding Mach 3 and a ceiling of 27 km (89,000 ft). Its high speed was problematic: Although sufficient thrust was available to reach Mach 3.2, a limit of Mach 2.83 had to be imposed as the engines tended to overspeed and overheat at higher airspeeds, possibly damaging them beyond repair.
The design cruising speed is Mach 2.35 (2,500 km/h) with partial afterburner in operation. The maximum speed of Mach 2.83 (3,000 km/h) is allowed to maintain no more than 5 minutes due to the danger of overheating of the airframe and fuel in the tanks. When the airframe temperature reaches 290 °C (554 °F), the warning lamp lights up, and the pilot must reduce airspeed.
It's also been replaced in Russian service by the MiG 31, which has a lower top speed.
Not to mention, it's contemporary American equivalent (the SR-71) has a higher top speed and also spawned a fighter variant. So between the Soviet 'fastest fighter jet' and the American 'fastest fighter jet' the Soviet one actually entered production but the American one can actually exceed Mach 3 operationally, as it's recon version consistently has demonstrated over the years.
I know you're only mentioning the MiG 25 as a speed comparison, but it's worth remembering how over-rated it is as a fighter to avoid extrapolating any notions of Soviet military superiority. It's overweight, it lacks manoeuvrability
as well as the structural strength to benefit from attempts at improving it's manoeuvrability and the fighter version isn't very useful for any task that isn't intercepting bombers while in ground control.
And that was when it was new.
In a lot of ways the Foxbat vs. Blackbird comparison shows how far ahead the US was already back in the '60s without entirely realizing it.
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28 Dec 2024, 7:04 pm
