In 1971 the USSR sent two MiG-25R and two MiG-25RB, (specially designated as X-500), framed in the “Detachment 63” unit to Egypt to perform reconnaissance missions in Israel. They performed about 20 missions until July 1972, when they return home. They were sent again in October 1973 framed in a new unit named as “Detachment 154”. Again, they performed high altitude reconnaissance missions during the Yom Kippur War with total impunity. “Detachment 154” return to Soviet Union at the end of 1974.“Foxbat-B” aircraft could reach Mach 2.83, but only could fly at this speed for a maximum of 5 minutes. Although there is a precedent for a pilot, who did it longer to avoid an Israeli SAM missile without any further problems. Despite Israeli attempts to intercept the MiG-25Rs, they were always in vain. During these missions, there is data of some MiG-25Rs flying over the Sinai, being tracked by Israeli radars at a speed of Mach 3.2 (3,920 km/h).Most of the reconnaissance variants could carry out bombing missions at heights of more than 20,000 meters. In this missions they used the “Peleng” inertial navigation system and a Doppler radar to calculate speed and lag. They could carry a load similar to the weight of the R-40 missiles, but not higher so as not to impair their drag, so they were limited to bombs with a maximum weight of 500 kg. These bombs dropped from such a speed and height could glide for tens of kilometers to their target, giving this aircraft a remarkable bombardment capacity. They also had Nuclear bombing capacity if necessary.
MiG-25R / RR / RB / RBV / RBT/ RBK / RBF “Foxbat B” were exported to several countries. Bulgaria acquired 3 MiG-25RBTs that were in service until 1991, India had 6 MiG-25RBKs framed in a secret unit until 2006, Iraq had 9 MiG-25RBs in service until mid 90s, Libya had some MiG-25RBKs and Syria also had 8 MiG-25RB (on the image) until not many years ago. Curiously, the Soviet Mig-25R squadrons were the last to be withdrawn from Germany and Poland after the fall of the “Iron Curtain” in the early 90s.
