Posted on 05/01/2026 1:13:18 AM PDT by Red Badger
For 25 years, Soviet pilots flew impossible missions—chasing an American aircraft that flew higher, faster, and more untouchable than anything in their arsenal. The SR-71 Blackbird operated at 85,000 feet and Mach 3.3. Soviet MiG-25 interceptors? They could barely reach 80,000 feet at Mach 2.8—and only for minutes before their engines burned out.
This is the story of over 800 failed intercept attempts. Of pilots who whispered the truth in ready rooms while filing false reports for Moscow. Of the psychological toll of chasing excellence you can see but never reach.
March 6, 1982: Major Mikhail Myagkiy climbs toward 80,000 feet in his MiG-25, fuel gauges plummeting, knowing the SR-71 above him will simply accelerate away. He's done this before. Every Soviet interceptor pilot has. And they all know the same terrible secret.
They're not defending Soviet airspace. They're performing theater for politicians who refuse to accept reality.
36 Minute Video at link..................
(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...
Good point.
Yes, you are correct. The MiG-25 was to counter the B-70. The fact that the Soviets built the MiG-25 contributed to the cancellation of the B-70 program. The other factor was vastly improved Soviet SAMs that rendered high altitude penetration of enemy airspace moot.
Sorry, but that video is so full of crappy AI slop visuals that I couldn’t finish it.
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