Chapter 133: Aim 54 Strike
The MiG-25 squadron could not be fully mobilized. The 513th Regiment had to remain alert to potential threats over the Sea of Japan, which remained their primary defense zone. Now, only ten MiG-25s led by Andrei were dispatched to support Sakhalin Island.
Following their emergency takeoff, the aircraft engaged full afterburner, disregarding fuel concerns. Time was critical; the frontline air battle was already underway, and their comrades were outmatched.
Andrei, aware of the performance gap between Soviet and American fighters, understood the stakes. He knew that neither the MiG-21 nor Su-15 could compete effectively with the new-generation American F-15s. Even later platforms like the Su-27 or J-11 struggled to outperform the F-15 in every category. As a former test pilot, Andrei understood aerial combat intimately and respected the F-15's strengths.
Externally, the F-15 lacked some of the aerodynamic refinements of later designs, like blended wing bodies or canards, and still used hydraulic controls rather than fly-by-wire. Yet, the overall integration—especially in terms of propulsion and avionics—gave it a significant edge. Despite being an early production model, it could easily outmatch legacy Soviet fighters. Only the MiG-25 could truly challenge it.
The F-15 was originally designed to counter the MiG-25. Ironically, now that the F-15 had entered active service, it still could not negate the MiG-25's advantages in altitude and raw speed. Even if it only served to scatter American formations, the MiG-25 could make a difference. Andrei was prepared to press the aircraft to its limits, even if it meant running dry and diverting to a Sakhalin airbase for emergency landing.
As they approached the battle area, the frontline reports became clear. Eight Soviet aircraft were already lost or damaged. On the American side, only one F-15 was reported hit, and three allied Japanese aircraft had gone down. The attrition rate strongly favored the Americans.
At 26,000 meters, Andrei activated his RP-25M pulse-Doppler radar. The screen lit up with returns—dozens of targets ahead. Some were positively identified as friendly, but many remained ambiguous. Soviet IFF systems were known for unreliability, making misidentification a constant concern.
Suddenly, a segment of the radar returns separated and accelerated southward. Those had to be American aircraft disengaging and heading toward Hokkaido.
"513th Regiment, heading 030. Prepare to intercept retreating targets," Andrei ordered.
The MiG-25s banked right and moved to intercept laterally—an easier setup than a direct head-on.
At 100 kilometers, closure would occur within a minute. Yet something unsettled Andrei. The Americans retreating like this, showing their flanks, seemed tactically naive. It had to be a feint. A setup.
His radar began a single-pulse target lock, readying the R-40 missiles. Then the warning tones screamed in his headset—lock-ons were coming not just from the American aircraft ahead, but also from the right flank.
Andrei instantly grasped the situation. "513th Regiment, 513th Regiment, unidentified high-altitude contacts detected bearing 036!"
Seconds later, Sakhalin's long-range radar confirmed the threat.
"Phoenix missile launch! Check your right flank!"
It was an ambush.
The F-15 formation had been a decoy—a frontal distraction. The real threat came from F-14 Tomcats of the U.S. Navy, maneuvering into a flanking position and launching AIM-54 Phoenix missiles. Designed for long-range interception, the Phoenix had both range and altitude advantage, and could be launched in volleys.
The MiG-25's speed gave it excellent survivability in theory, but in a surprise scenario like this, even it was vulnerable.
Andrei realized that American strategy aimed not only to retaliate for the civilian airliner incident, but also to eliminate the MiG-25 threat altogether. Without precautions, even high-speed interceptors could be cornered.
"Deploy countermeasures! Execute evasive maneuvers!"
The MiG-25s scattered. Phoenix missiles, already in the air, streaked toward their targets at Mach 5.
The ambush had begun.