MiG-25RB Foxbat B Reconnaissance-bomber. First flight: 1970 © Konstantinos Panitsidis

Photos from the personal collection of Konstantinos Panitsidis


 Technical specifications      Photos      Video

 

 

NATO reporting name: Foxbat-B
izdeliye 02B

 

Single-seat, twin-engine reconnaissance bomber, created in the early 70s. based on the MiG-25R reconnaissance aircraft (according to other sources, based on the MiG-25P). The aircraft was equipped with reconnaissance equipment similar to the MiG-25R.

The MiG-25RB aircraft is designed to conduct operational-tactical aerial reconnaissance, as well as to deliver bombing strikes against enemy area targets from the stratosphere.


MiG-25RB Foxbat B Reconnaissance-bomber © Konstantinos Panitsidis

The MiG-25RB became the first serial tactical reconnaissance aircraft capable of carrying conventional bombs (in the strike version, it is possible to transport up to 4-8 FOTAB-100-80 or 8 FAB-500M-62), including nuclear ones. The maximum payload up to 5000 kg.

It solved the problem of the flight in high aerodynamic heating.

 

MiG-25RB Foxbat B Reconnaissance-bomber © Konstantinos Panitsidis


For conducting aerial reconnaissance, the following equipment is installed on the aircraft:
in different configurations.

1st option - for panoramic daytime radio reconnaissance and electronic reconnaissance, consisting of:

-A-70M camera
-A-E/10 topographic camera
-Virazh-1 station

2st Option - detailed daytime photographic reconnaissance and electronic reconnaissance, consisting of:

-two A72 cameras
-topographic aerial camera A-E/10
-station "Virizh-1"

3rd option - night photo reconnaissance and electronic reconnaissance, consisting of:

- two night cameras NA-75B
- up to 8 photobombs FOTAB-100-140
- station "Virage-1"

4th option - detailed radio reconnaissance, including the Kub-3M station.

5th option - reconnaissance equipment, including the Saber side-scan radar.

Options 1, 2 and 3 are interchangeable, options 4 and 5 are not interchangeable, which is a significant drawback of the aircraft.

 


THREE-VIEW DRAWING

MiG-25RB Foxbat B © Konstantinos Panitsidis

  


TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

DESIGNER
OKB MiG
COUNTRY
Russia
TYPE
Reconnaissance-bomber
CREW
1
POWER-PLANT
Two jet engine R-15B-300
Thrust, kgf
2 x 109,8
- without afterburnig
2 х 7.500
- with afterburnig
2 x 11.200
- minimum afterburning
2 х 8.350
DIMENSIONS
 
Length with Pitot, m
23,30
Height, m
6,00
Wing span, m
13,38
Wing area, m2
61,40
WEIGHT
 
Maximum take-off, kg
39.600
Normal takeoff (with full refueling without external tank), kg
 
- reconnaissance aircraft
34.700
- in bomber variant without bombs with 2 hardpoints 35.000
- with 2 FAB-500M-62 bombs 36.000
- with 4 FAB-500M-62 37.000
- with 6 FAB-500M-62 38.000
Empty aircraft, kg 20.000
Internal fuel, kg 15.000
Warload, kg up to 5.000
PERFORMANCE
 
Maximum speed at high altitude (M=2,83), km/h
3.000
Max speed in low height (H>5000 m), km/h
1.100
Rate of climb, m/min
2.800
Rate of climb to 20.000 m, min
8,2
Maximum practical ceiling at full afterburning at М=2,6, m
23.000-4%
Combat radius, at altitudes of 19-21 km at M = 2,35, km
 
- with an external fuel tank (after running out of fuel, it is discarded)
920
- without external fuel tank 680
Maximum radius with four FAB-500M-62 at altitudes of 19-21 km at М=2,35, km  
- under wing hardpoints 540
- hardpoints under the fuselage 560
Maximum радиус without bombs at altitudes of 9000-10000 m at M=0,9, km  
-with an external fuel tank (with its dropping after running out of fuel) 1.040
- without external fuel tank 770
Range, km 1.865
Ferry range, km 2.400
Maximum overload, g 3,8
ARMAMENT
in 4 hardpoints, 10 bombs FAB-500 or FAB-500M-62 or nuclear weapons.

 


PHOTOS MiG-25RB Foxbat B, Central Air Force Museum Monino (Russian)

 

MiG-25RB Foxbat B, Oleg Antonov State Aviation Museum (Ukraine)