MiG-25 Foxbat: An Operational and Strategic History of the World’s Fastest Combat Jet

The MiG-25 "Foxbat" entered service more than 50 years ago and remains one of the fastest, highest-flying aircraft in history. The only faster jet, the SR-71 Blackbird, was unarmed and utilized exclusively for reconnaissance; fewer than 40 were built. The Soviets built more than a thousand MiG-25s, and unlike the SR-71, Foxbats have engaged in direct air-to-air combat.

This is a detailed narrative history of the MiG-25 program. Author Abraham Abrams examines the Soviet motivations for producing such a plane, describes the developmental and operational history of the type, both in the USSR and abroad, and analyzes the aircraft's place in the greater Cold War balance of power.