The spy satellite photos created real panic in the Pentagon! An enormous Soviet airplane–probably an interceptor–with engine intakes the size of small cars. The wings were huge, which suggested it had maneuverability far beyond anything America’s McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II could achieve. The Pentagon was looking at the prototypes of what would become the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 Foxbat. After the airplane appeared in public for the first time in July 1967 and went on a record-setting spree, it appeared the Soviets had a wonder weapon that could match the best in the West–the Mach 3.2 Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird spyplane. This was a terrifying development. That is, if it were true…

Show notes at https://thedigressionpodcast.com/92

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NOTES:

The MiG 25 terrified the West until a defector exposed its true nature

Mikoyan MiG-25

This legendary Soviet aircraft’s engines were basically two missiles jammed into a fuselage

Impressive photos show Viktor Belenko’s defecting MiG-25 Foxbat buzzing Hakodate rooftops before landing at the city’s international airport

Viktor Belenko