Soviet "Foxbat" Pilots Were Humiliated When F-14s Outflew Them Over Libya скачать в хорошем качестве

Soviet "Foxbat" Pilots Were Humiliated When F-14s Outflew Them Over Libya

Soviet "Foxbat" Pilots Were Humiliated When F-14s Outflew Them Over Libya When Libya's Muammar Gaddafi drew his "Line of Death" across the Gulf of Sidra, he challenged American naval aviation with Soviet MiG-25 Foxbats—the fastest interceptors in his arsenal. What happened next exposed the brutal reality of Cold War air superiority. American F-14 Tomcats faced off against Libya's premier Soviet-supplied fighters in multiple engagements from 1981-1989, revealing a devastating technology gap that humiliated Moscow and proved U.S. air dominance over the Mediterranean. This is the story of how speed meant nothing against superior radar, tactics, and weapons systems—and how the Foxbat's reputation crumbled over international waters. Cold War, F-14 Tomcat, MiG-25 Foxbat, Gulf of Sidra, Libya, Muammar Gaddafi, US Navy, Soviet fighters, air combat, military history, 1980s, naval aviation, fighter jets, Reagan era, freedom of navigation PRIMARY SOURCES • U.S. Navy official reports on Gulf of Sidra incidents (1981, 1989) • "Fast Eagles and Other Stories: F-14 Tomcat Combat History" - various naval aviation archives • Declassified Department of Defense assessments of Libyan Air Force capabilities (1980s) • Viktor Belenko defection analysis and MiG-25 technical evaluation reports (1976) • Congressional testimony on Mediterranean naval operations (1981-1989) • VF-41 "Black Aces" and VF-32 "Swordsmen" squadron histories • "Tomcat! The Grumman F-14 Story" by Paul T. Gillcrist • Jane's All the World's Aircraft (1980s editions) - MiG-25 and F-14 specifications • Soviet/Russian aviation journals and post-Cold War analysis of export fighter performance • USS Nimitz, USS Forrestal, USS John F. Kennedy, USS America cruise reports (1981, 1989)