The Scramble for the Best Plane

Panic and the arms race ---- the scramble for the best plane:

         In a response to the ever-growing capability of the United States supersonic Bombers (Epically the XB-70 Valkyrie developed in 1964), the Soviet Union gave the US an answer: The MiG-25 interceptor. It is an interceptor jet that was aimed straight at taking down this brand-new Bomber that is still under development, a fighter jet that was the fastest ever clocked, a jet that looks so advanced, it sent the whole western intelligence in a spiral of panic. In the Soviet 1967 October Revolution Air Show, three MiG-25 prototypes were showcased in the airshow, even broadcasted in English for western audiences. They made sure the West is watching, and certainly, they were.

         Upon first sight, the US intelligence was certain that this jet was like no other. In a scramble for information, experts hypothesized that the MIG-25 was highly maneuverable due to the wide wingspan, have advanced afterburning engines, and was made with exotic materials like titanium. They also discovered the similarity between the Foxbat and the still-under-development F-15 Eagle, the Next Generation US air superiority fighting jet, which is still 10 years away from being ready for production. The plane was spotted multiple times flights over the middle east, where it was clocked once flying at high altitude, with a shocking speed of Mach 3. The west didn’t give chase to the MIG-25, because it was flying so high and fast, no plane in their arsenal can ever catch it.

          So, the US knows that it’s time for them to get to work, and that’s exactly what they did. Entering service in 1976, the F-15 was a smaller, lighter fighter jet than the outdated F-4 Phantom, focused on air superiority, or put straightly, they are built for taking down the MiG-25s. The new F-15 Eagles were incredibly maneuverable, faster at climbing, have a better radar, and are an overall, much better air-superiority jet than the MiG-25 is.