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MIG-25's were never really that useful even when new.

They were designed and built to counter the American B-70 bomber, which was a very large, very long range mach 3 nuclear bomber. It had a take-off weight of around 900,000 lbs., I think. Only two were ever built, and were only used as research aircraft. The SR-71 was originally conceived as its escort fighter.

The Mig-25s success even against a very large bomber such as the B-70, would have been limited. The Soviets tried to intercept an SR-71 with a Mig-25 on a number of occaisons, but always failed. The Mig-25 could acheive only a ballistic trajectory at the normal operating altitude of the SR-71 and the B-70.

It was usefull as a reconaisance aircraft, though. It could fly at a speed above mach 3 at an altitude over 60,000 feet. Of course, the Israelis shot down one flown by Egypt. They made the mistake of over-flying Israel at the same time and the same track every day. Knowing when and where the Mig was coming, Israel used an F-15 at maximum speed and sent it into a zoom climb under the Mig, and got it with a modified Israeli Sparrow missile, which was nearly at the end of its range and controlleable altitude.