
In the late-50s Soviet design bureaus joined race with their Western partners for Mach-3+ combat aircraft. Main goal was a heavy interceptor, but new design also had to accommodate a reconnaissance role. Interestingly, AIMikoyan was advised by several associates to avoid the program. For example, Anatolij Brunov (many years colleague of Mikoyan) refused to manage the new aircraft. And they had a reason. Scope and complexity of the project were enormous. Expansion of old facilities and creation of new ones was a must to perform construction and trials of airframe, engines, flight control and other systems. AIMikoyan took the challenge, and MIGurevich (still active in the bureau) became the chief engineer. It was the last project of MIGurevich, who retired in 1964 at age of 73. His duties were overtaken by Nikolai Matyuk, a competent engineer in his own right. Project was officially initiated on March 10, 1961. Heavy heat regimes of Mach-3 flight resulted in creation of special creep-resistant nickel steel alloys, as well as heavy duty cooling systems for instrument bays and cockpit. Silver-plated metal mesh combined with glass fiber mats covered the engine bays. Powerplant itself was remarkable. Each of R-15B-300 engines provided 11215kg of static thrust. To operate convergent/divergent exhaust nozzle of each engine no less than 12 hydraulic rams were installed. Large variable intakes were equipped with hydraulically actuated ramps, controlled by the central computer. At <b>...</b>
Mikoyan
Gurevich
MIG
Mig-25
E-155
sr-71
reconnaissance
airlane
spyplame
mach
supersonic