Soviet advantage in aircraft

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33034, 29 September 1972, Page 9

Soviet advantage in aircraft

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright I

LONDON, September 28

The Soviet Union is flying a supersonic swing-wing bomber the United States cannot match and a fighter plane the Americans cannot catch, says the new edition of “Jane’s All The World’s Aircraft.”

The international authority on aerospace developments commented that the United States lag behind the two Soviet planes illustrates the dangers of shopping for bargains when planning an air force. The 798-page annual reference book — published by Sampson Low, Marstop, and Company, of London—contained what it said was the first published illustration of the Soviet bomber, known as “Backfire” in the North Atlantic Alliance.

Also pictured was the Soviet MiG23 fighter, which has

been out-racing Israel’s Ame-rican-made equipment in Middle East skies. “Jane’s" editor, John Taylor advised Washington in his foreword.

“The wisdom of accepting second best has always been dubious in military affairs. Before accepting present attractive but dangerous trends Congress would do well to ask the Israelis for their views.”

The Soviet Union supplied the MiG23 to Egypt and, piloted by Soviets and Egyptians, it has flown reconnaissance missions over the Middle East. Taylor said: “It was frustrating for crews of Israeli Phantoms to realise that even the best missile-armed fighters supplied by America could not enable them to challenge MiG23 flying at its normal operation cruising speed and height. “Jane’s” said that the Soviet Backfire was believed to have been designed for an over-target speed of mach 2.25 to mach 2.50, with a maximum range without re, fuelling of 4000 miles. Mach numbers multiply the speed of sound, which is 764 miles an hour at sea level. It said that a small preproduction series probably has been built for development testing, weapons trials and evaluation. In contrast, Taylor said development of America’s swing-wing supersonic strategic bomber—the North American Rockwell BIA, successor of the Bs2—“continues only under ceaseless opposition in Congress” and was not scheduled to fly until 1974.

The large, glossy pages of “Jane’s” show every known type of plane — civil and military—in the world. There also is information on missiles, unmanned aircraft, satellites and dirigibles—and even on a burgeoning number of manpowered aircraft.