The last Foxbats left Russian service in December 2013. A small number reportedly remain active in Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Syria. “The withdrawal of the MiG-25 leaves notable gaps in Russia’s aerial reconnaissance-gathering capabilities,” Combat Aircraft reporters Stefan Buettner and Alexander Golz lamented.
The Armenian is u/s and there are no plans to put it in service. Azerbeidzjan has indeed plans, but being a very poor country it remains to be soon if there are funds available.
There are no reports anymore of the Syrian Foxbats being operated art this time.
I am not convinced about the withdrawal of the VVS MiG-25's and specially the RB versions. Any one who can confirm this?
Modernization Prolongs Life of Russia’s MiG-25 Spyplanes
AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE » OCTOBER 19, 2012
by VLADIMIR KARNOZOV
The Russian Air Force still operates 20 MiG-25R reconnaissance aircraft and has decided to modernize them. This one was photographed over the Baltic Sea by the Swedish air force in 1990.
October 19, 2012, 10:50 AM
The Russian defense ministry has decided to modernize the air force’s surviving MiG-25 spyplanes for service until 2020. The venerable aircraft will receive a modern navigation suite based on Glonass receivers and laser gyroscopes; digital photo and video cameras; and a new “radio-technical reconnaissance complex.” The latter will include a new side-looking radar for surface surveillance and various communications and electronic intelligence-gathering systems.
Some of the specified equipment is still in development, while the balance comes off the shelf. Sources in the defense ministry say that the Russian air force is short of dedicated reconnaissance aircraft. The MiG-25R refit will bridge the gap until a new reconnaissance airplane becomes available.
The Russian air force still operates 20 MiG-25s, based at Baltimor AFB near Voronezh and at Monchegorsk AFB. Less than half of these aircraft are combat-ready, while others need repair and spares. The powerplant is the biggest concern for mechanics. The Tumansky R15B engines (initially developed for a cruise missile) proved strongly built and highly reliable, but their design is based on 1950s and 1960s technology and features a short time between overhaul (TBO). Since R15 production ended in the late 1980s, the number of aircraft listed in the air force’s inventory is determined largely by the number of available spares.
The Soviet Union launched development of the MiG-25 in 1962 as a high-altitude interceptor capable of countering the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird and other high-flying supersonic threats. Eighty percent of the airframe was made of welded steel to withstand the heat created at high speeds. The type was officially accepted into service in 1972, although it flew photo-reconnaissance missions in the October 1971 war in support of Egyptian armed forces, overflying Israel at high supersonic speeds. The MiG-25 fleet underwent considerable rework after pilot Victor Belenko defected to Japan in a MiG-25P in September 1976; his aircraft was partially disassembled for technical assessment before being returned to the Soviet Union.
Officially, the MiG-25’s top speed is restricted to Mach 2.83 with a specified weapons load on external hard points, but the airplane has exceeded Mach 3 in clean configuration. Although the MiG-25 was followed by the MiG-31, the latter’s top speed and altitude were somewhat lower. Also, the MiG-31 was never produced in a specialized reconnaissance version.
While the lion’s share of nearly 1,200 MiG-25s built were interceptors, the type’s career as a spyplane has been more successful. Since 1971 Russia produced a long line of reconnaissance aircraft on the MiG-25 platform, including R, RB, RBSh, RBK, RBS and RBF versions. Finally, the MiG-25RBM remained in production at the Sokol plant in Nizhny Novrogod from 1982 to 1985. Based on the MiG-25RB platform, it was dedicated to suppression of hostile radar and other emitters with anti-radiation missiles and was distinguishable by a longer nose section to house bulkier equipment.
The same for me, I am also not convinced all MiG-25R & RU were withdrawn from use.
Yes, the regiment at Voronezh stopped flying operations with them, but probably Monchegorsk continues to fly the MiG-25R/RU.
Based on GDP per capita it is the 88th country (or 83rd depending on the source) in the world. So not a very rich country I would say.... source
So yes, I would also say it remains to be seen if they can get the funds to do the refurbishment. Unless of course, the Russians are nice and help them out with their recently retired planes.
My connections say that they aren't based on Voronezh anymore since December 2013. But don't forget this can be misleading, Voronezh is closed for the next years!
Some of the MiG-25 with a activity day
05 red MiG-25PU Monchegorsk 2012.09.24
25 red MiG-25RBSh Baltimor 2011.10
28 red MiG-25RBF Shatalovo 208.09.18
32 red MiG-25RU Baltimor 2012.02
33 red MiG-25RU 2009
44 red MiG-25 Baltimor 2011.09
45 red MiG-25RBT Baltimor 2012.08.18
46 red MiG-25RBT Baltimor 2012.02
48 red MiG-25RBT Baltimor 2011.07
68 red MiG-25TB Monchegorsk 2012.08
72 red MiG-25RB Monchegorsk 2011.04.20
95 red MiG-25RU Baltimor 2012.08.18
Some others may fly at Lipetsk, Zhukovsky and Akhtubinsk.
The Azerbaijan MiG-25 flying with modernized Algerian ones.
05 red MiG-25PU Monchegorsk 2012.09.24
25 red MiG-25RBSh Baltimor 2011.10
28 red MiG-25RBF Shatalovo 208.09.18
32 red MiG-25RU Baltimor 2012.02 (last seen 2013.08)
33 red MiG-25RU 2009
44 red MiG-25 Baltimor 2011.09
45 red MiG-25RBT Baltimor 2012.08.18
46 red MiG-25RBT Baltimor 2012.02 (2012.09)
48 red MiG-25RBT Baltimor 2011.07 59 red MiG-25RB Baltimor 2013.10 63red MiG-25RB Monchegorsk 201.08
68 red MiG-25TB Monchegorsk 2012.08 (I think this should be a RBT?)last seen at Monchegorsk 2013.03 68 red MiG-25RB Baltimor 2012.08.31
72 red MiG-25RB Monchegorsk 2011.04.20 90 red MiG-25RU Monchegorsk 2010.02
95 red MiG-25RU Baltimor 2012.08.18 96 red MiG-25PU Baltimor 2013
45 is also known as RF-92069 MiG-25RBT last seen at Baltimor augustus 2012
56 red MiG-25RB (?) seen at Pushkin june 2012
48 red MiG-25RB Baltimor last seen oct 2011
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