• @PugJesusOPM
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    702 months ago

    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!

    • Synapse
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      52 months ago

      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.

      • @Johnmannesca
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        52 months ago

        So it was practically a brick on wings?

        • @I_Has_A_Hat
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          52 months ago

          A very fast brick with wings, but yes.