Ragnar wrote in message ...

snipped generally acurrate stuff

Its an interceptor, which is what the F-15 was also designed to be. Recce
models of the 25 came AFTER.

Err... yes and no, equaly distributed. According to the Deputy of the Chief
Constructor Valentin Aleksandrovich Stepanov, official history of MiG-25
design is:

- 1959, research for a FIGHTER capable to intercept A-12;
- 1960, general design solution ;
- 1961, March 10-A.I. Mikoyan reported about -starting- of the design
prototype E-155;
- 1962, Mockup commision assembled for RECONNAISSANCE version;
- 1963, December-very first prototype brought out from the factory;
- 1964, MARCH 6-first flight of the RECONNAISSANCE prototype (E-155R-1) by
Alexandar Fedotov.
- 1964, SEPTEMBER 9-first flight of the FIGHTER prototype (E-155P-1).

Now, having in mind that there were no major -aerodynamical- changes in
MiG-25P/R, the "mockup" commision, probably, mainly had to deal with
arrangement of the nose-installed equipment while the prototype was in
construction-maybe even more for the convenience of the flight test
equipment placement in the "steel" nose of R version. Both were tested for
flight performance (needed for a fighter) and modified accordingly-the
aerodynamic/mechanical flaws were the same on the both version.

The installation of "Smerch" fighter radar was known from Tu-128 "Fiddler"
and MiG YE-151/152 prototypes and I speculate it was a "no big deal" to
build a "functional" fighter prototype (or at least with ballast and test
equipment), but when the R-60 test missilet firing begun, the thrust/exaust
and assymetrical load when that huge and hevy missile(s) was fired created
flight problems. To rectify this, automatic compensation of the tail
surfaces was added on a fighter prototype-which was probably retained on
both serial fighter and recce versions (since the simmilar compensation is
needed for a bomb dropping on RB version.

So, MiG-25 was designed to be a fighter, but a -recconnaissance- prototype
flew first!

Nele

NULLA ROSA SINE SPINA