The Mikoyan MiG-31 was based on the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25. The MiG-25 was a defensive interceptor designed to take out enemy cruise missiles and bombers at great distance. When defending a huge country against bombers, high top speed beats maneuverability any time. The MiG-31 is a big beast. It weighs 46,000kg when fully loaded. Of course, a huge proportion of that is due to the large quantity of fuel needed to power the incredibly powerful engines needed to propel the MiG-31 to 3000 km/h (1900 mph) at Mach 2.83 at 21,500 m (70,500 ft).
Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-150 series – Mach 2.85
Wildly-high-performance heavy interceptors, the Ye-150 series could out-drag, out-climb, out-race any other fighter anywhere, and they had a severe style about them. Despite first flying way back in 1959, the Ye-150 could reach an incredible Mach 2.65 (some reports say a peak of Mach 2.85, i.e. 3030 km/h, 1862 mph) and could go higher than 69,000 ft (21031m). The four experimental fighters formed the first step in an ambitious plan to develop a massively upgraded fighter capable of warding off an ever-expanding Western threat (including the B-58 high-speed bomber in the late 1950s). Ground-based guidance radars would autopilot the missile to counter and intercept these high-supersonic, high-flying intruders before its own next-generation missile system engaged.
General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark – Mach 2.91
The F-111 bomber resulted from a failed project to construct a fighter-bomber that could operate as a combined United States Air Force and United States Navy fighter-interceptor and fast bomber. The naval fighter version for aircraft carriers, the F-111B, proved too heavy and slow to operate, so they dropped it in favour of the F-14 Tomcat. Open any book about aircraft or navigate a site about the F-111, and you will find that they recorded its maximum speed at between Mach 2.2 and Mach 2.5. However, after consulting F-111 pilots and navigators, Hush-Kit soon discovered that they considered this seemingly definitive number very tame. "There was NO specified maximum speed," said Aardvark Weapon System Officer Jim Rotramel.
North American XB-70 Valkyrie (1964) – Mach 3
The assumed operation of the bomber in spite of human interception seemed to be working, but once again it became obvious that military forces were already deploying more powerful missiles to shoot at the XB-70. The potential of the intercontinental ballistic missile still existed, but the XB-70 programme persisted. Top political figures such as Richard Nixon, John F Kennedy and Robert McNamara tossed the project about as a political 'football', all supporting and opposing the pro or anti sides as required. In the 1960 presidential election, Kennedy supported the B-70 but then decided against its conclusion. The authorities finally cancelled the aircraft but it did contribute some research for NASA.
Bell X-2 Star buster - Mach 3.196 (air-launched)
In order to endure the high skin temperatures, the X-2s employed stainless steel and K-monel, a copper-nickel alloy. Engineers powered the X-2s with a two-chamber computer-controlled, liquid-fueled, Curtiss-Wright XLR25 throttleable rocket engine. When the rocket had used up all of its fuel, the X-2 glided back to earth. Capt. Milburn G. "Mel" Apt broke the sound barrier for the first time on 27 Sept 1956. He attained 2094 mph (Mach 3.196) in the Bell X-2, but disaster struck a short time later. Apt maneuvered into a tight turn, which caused the aircraft to become uncontrollable. Although Apt escaped from the aircraft, he died upon reaching the ground in the escape capsule.
Mikoyan MiG-25 ‘Foxbat’ - Mach 3.2
During its career, it primarily received assignments as an interceptor and reconnaissance; it was in the latter role that Israeli radar detected it flying at Mach 3.2. This is well beyond the usual recommended maximum operating limit of Mach 2.83 and reports indicated it destroyed the engines. Soviet MiG-25 fighter pilot Viktor Belenko defected to Japan in a MiG-25 in 1976. Once in Japanese custody, Western intelligence agencies quickly examined the aircraft. The West revered the MiG-25 as a technically advanced aircraft, but once analyzed more closely, it appeared surprisingly low-tech.
Lockheed YF-12 - Mach 3.35 (1963)
The fastest of all production combat aircraft ever built, the Lockheed YF-12 served as the prototype for a new generation of United States Air Force fighter that could fly at tremendous speeds and carry a belly full of ultra-long range AIM-47 air-to-air missiles to stop Soviet bomber attacks on the US. However, this was daunting, as some serious flaws existed with the idea; one was that the many sophisticated and advanced YF-12 could not be swiftly scrambled. The aircraft required far too much preparation to be ready for action, and being a minute to save bombers from enemy aircraft was far too long.
FAQ's
Q1: What is the absolute fastest aircraft ever made?
The North American X-15 holds the all-time record, reaching a blistering Mach 6.72 (4,520 mph) in 1967.
Q2: Which is the fastest non-experimental operational jet?
The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird holds that crown, cruising effortlessly at over Mach 3.3 (2,193+ mph).
Q3: Are there any crewed aircraft currently in service that exceed Mach 3?
The Soviet-designed MiG-25 Foxbat is capable of Mach 3.2, though most active interceptors now fly slightly slower.
Q4: What about uncrewed or unmanned aircraft records?
The NASA X-43A scramjet holds the absolute unmanned speed record at an incredible Mach 9.6.
Q5: Why aren't we building faster aircraft today?
Extreme heat from air friction, prohibitive fuel costs, and the rise of precision satellites have largely replaced the need for ultra-fast crewed planes.
