this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2024
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[–] [email protected] 67 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Explanation: When the Americans learned of the Soviet Mig-25 'Foxbat', the US was certain that the high-speed jet shown by the Soviets was, due to its design and the classified nature of its technical details, an ultra-maneuverable ultra-fast fighter jet, and in response, poured money into the F-15 'Eagle' to make it a weapon that could compare to its Soviet counterpart!

Some ten years later a defector landed with a Mig-25 and handed it over to Western intelligence. Turns out, it wasn't maneuverable at all, or a fighter, for that matter. It was an interceptor made for catching nuclear bombers, and had all the maneuverability of stiff cardboard. Very fast, though! C'est la vie!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Once dismantled and analyzed, it was discovered the airframe of the MiG was mostly made of steel and the avionics entirely based on vacuum tubes.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

So it was practically a brick on wings?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

A very fast brick with wings, but yes.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 days ago

MIC got us again