Iraq has MiG 25-PUs???

Frozen Hell

New Member
Hi,

take a look at this picture

CLICK TO SEE PICTURE


What these [unidentifiable] hooded men are guarding is a very rare Russian aircraft known as the Mig 25-PU. Known generically to the world as the Mig 25 "Foxbat", this version is a two-seat interceptor trainer produced in numbers so small that every aviation buff in the world knows where they all are. Iraq had never bought any Mig 25-PUs, has not borrowed or been given any Mig 25-PUs, so this official picture from US Central Command cannot have been shot in Iraq. It really is that simple...

The headgear worn by these heroes is mildly interesting, because it is very similar if not identical to that worn by Russian special forces, normally but not always in Russia. The colors on the aircraft indicate that is most likely one belonging to Tajikistan, where certain units of the SAS [hush my mouth...] went on exercise a year or two ago. Remember Exercise "Enduring Freedom"?
Someone really should have a quiet word with US Central Command. If you know their telephone number, call and tell them that if they really want to fool the western public, their PR folk really should use a picture of an aircraft that most people will actually believe is [or can be] in Iraq. Try to stick to the ubiquitous Mig 21. Almost everyone in the Middle East has a few of these, including Saddam...



Anyone want to take a shot at this one?
 

Winter

New Member
A shot? Here we go...

After some research, I found the image off the official Australian Defence website...Not US Central Command.

It is a photograph of Australian forces discovering a two-seater MiG-25 variant, which Iraq supposedly had none of in it's inventory. It was a news story at the time.

The image caption: 'Australian soldiers from the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) patrol and clear buildings and infrastructure in a major Iraqi airbase in western Iraq. '

Find the image at: http://www.defence.gov.au/opfalconer/images/gallery/200403a/200403a.htm


It looks like a pretty weak attempt of conspiracy theory.
 

Red aRRow

Forum Bouncer
Nice find Winter. I think since Iraq was operating Mig-25s it would have been only natural to have the Mig-25 Foxbat C (PU) to provide training to the pilots. An Iraqi Foxbat was the one to open the Air-to-Air account over the skies of Iraq in Gulf War Part 1 by shooting down and American F-18C Hornet.
Anyway thanks for the info and pictures Frozen Hell and Winter.
 

nsdap_id

New Member
shamayel said:
Nice find Winter. I think since Iraq was operating Mig-25s it would have been only natural to have the Mig-25 Foxbat C (PU) to provide training to the pilots. An Iraqi Foxbat was the one to open the Air-to-Air account over the skies of Iraq in Gulf War Part 1 by shooting down and American F-18C Hornet.
Anyway thanks for the info and pictures Frozen Hell and Winter.
Brothers,

I do not know how Iraqi converted their Foxbat drivers since they had not operated trainer variant. Question to all: What kind of trainer used by IrAF to produce Mach 3 pilots?

Indeedly Iraqi Foxbat was threat to USN especially F/A-18 piloted by Michael Speicher which was downed by Saddam's Foxie... :D
 

Awang se

New Member
Verified Defense Pro
Do Iraq own an advance AA missile like R-77 in the 1st Gulf War? what is the story of the iraqi fighters that fled to Iran?
 

nsdap_id

New Member
Awang se said:
Do Iraq own an advance AA missile like R-77 in the 1st Gulf War? what is the story of the iraqi fighters that fled to Iran?
Awang,

Re: R-77, I really do not know.

About Iraqi fighters, most of them were top-of-the-line:

- Four MiG-29s
- 24 Su-24s
- 24 Mirage F.1s
- Seven Su-25s
- 40 Su-20/-22s (rotten!) :D
- Two Il-76 Adnans
 

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
They are Australian SASr special forces troops (you can tell by the Camo gear, LBE's)

The aircraft including the "Uti" were seized approximately 200km west of bagdhad, approx 30 aircraft were captured. A majority of the aircraft were buried and were damaged.

Further south over 70 aircraft were captured including Mig 29's, Su-Frogfoots, Mil 17's, Mig 23's and Mig 27's. Exact details of all aircraft captured is still considered to be classified.

In the Gulf war, approx 137 Iraqi aircraft flown to Iran. Iran has not returned any aircraft and kept them as war reparations for the Iraq - Iran War
 

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
That aircraft is from a batch of planes that were present when Australian SAS troops captured the Iraqi Air Base at al-Asad.

Buried in the sand and/or camouflaged were 3 Mig 25's. Numerous Mil helicopters, Radar systems, munitions and other (still classified) pieces of equipment. One of the SU-25's was still armed, some of the aircraft were still fueled up.

All assets were handed over to the Joint Captured Material Exploitation Center(sic)

SAS also captured SU-25's and Mig 25's at al-Taqqadum and SU-25's at Tamous. approx 1/3rd of Iraqs remaining airforce were captured/seized by SAS troops. The largest number seized was 70 aircraft in the north west,
 

Awang se

New Member
Verified Defense Pro
I guess the Russian also use the Iraqi battlefield as the testing ground for some of their weapons against the western made ones. Maybe that Mig was part of the secret arm deal between the russian and saddam.
 

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Awang se said:
I guess the Russian also use the Iraqi battlefield as the testing ground for some of their weapons against the western made ones. Maybe that Mig was part of the secret arm deal between the russian and saddam.
Unfortunately war is the testing ground for any equipment. The Russians trialled the Mil 24 Hinds in Afghanistan, Mig 21's in Vietnam, the Americans, British, French, Italians etc etc....

But, anyone who buries aircraft in the sand without proper sealing procedures didn't know much about how damaging sand is. None of those aircraft are flyable,
 

Red aRRow

Forum Bouncer
Yeah the aircrafts are totally screwed now! :( with the wings chopped off and everything.

Here's a sad picture of a once beautiful machine:
 

Awang se

New Member
Verified Defense Pro
Wonder what kind of idiot do that. I rather see the aircraft fly away to Iran rather than let it rot in the sand.
 

umair

Peace Enforcer
What a cryin shame! What awang said is right, but there's Saddam's mindset for you(don't leave any thing in shape for the allies) :(
 

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
The americans don't exactly need any of the aircraft. They had access to a Mig 25 in 1976 when Belenko defected from Russia. They have known the capability of this aircraft type for some time

They have approx 21 Mig 29's that they purchased from Moldavia as technology demonstraters. They have Mig 27 (nuclear capable), Mig 23's, SU 25's and a fleet of Mig 21's.

So far the number of Iraqi aircraft captured in various forms of "distress" numbers in excess of 120 units.

AFIK the phased out Luftwaffe Mig 29's will be signed off in the US. They currently have the last squadron in the US. I assume that they will not leave. (They are being replaced by Typhoons)

That Mig 25 will probably end up as a museum piece somewhere.
 

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Awang se said:
A gulf war museum, either in Baghdad or in Washington.
They might put it in an aircraft museum. But it will probably be inside on a military base where the general public can't see it.


They were a classic fighter the Mig 25. One of the best aircraft that the Russians ever designed. I have seen them in India and they have awesome power.
 

Awang se

New Member
Verified Defense Pro
I don't really like the canopy though. It kind of shrank the view. U won't se anything unless they are already in front of u.
 

nsdap_id

New Member
Awang se, you're right...

Awang se said:
Wonder what kind of idiot do that. I rather see the aircraft fly away to Iran rather than let it rot in the sand.
I agree. The rest of Su-24s, Su-25s, MiG-29s, Mirage F.1EQs (all subvariants), PC-7/-9s, EMB-312s and locally-modified Il-76 tanker SHOULD HAVE GONE to the Islamic Republic of Iran :alian !!! :idea2 .

BTW, what kind of Fulcrum variant Iraqis use? 9.12B??
 

Awang se

New Member
Verified Defense Pro
I got some unconfirm info about the Iraqi MIG-25 during the 1st gulf war. Did you know that a MiG-25PD recorded the only Iraqi air-to-air kill of the Gulf War? It dropped an F-18C on the first night of the war. then went on to fire another missile at an A-6 and buzz an A-7, all while avoiding escorting F-14s and F-15s.
An isolated incident? How about the single Iraqi Foxbat-E that eluded eight sweeping F-15s then tangled with two EF-111As, firing three missiles at the Ravens and chasing them off station. Unfortunately, the Ravens were supporting an F-15E strike, and the EF-111's retreat led to the loss of one of the Strike Eagles to a SAM. Oh BTW, the Foxbat easily avoided interception and returned safely to base.

There's more. When F-15 pilots were flying sweeps east of Baghdad late in the war, itching for a chance to get a shot at an Iraqi running for Iran, they weren't expecting the fight that a pair of Foxbats put up. Two Foxbats approached a pair of F-15s, fired missiles before the Eagles could get off shots (the missiles were evaded by the Eagles), then outran those two Eagles, four Sparrows and two Sidewinders fired back at them. Two more Eagles maneuvered to cut the Foxbat's off from their base (four more Eagles tried, but were unable to effect an intercept), and four more Sparrows were expended in vain trying to drop the Foxbats.
 
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