Part 3/9:
The context of the MiG-25's design traces back to the early years of the Cold War when both the United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in a frenzied arms race. The United States had begun developing intercontinental bombers that could reach any point on the globe, supposedly rendering the Soviet Air Force obsolete. Particularly, the B-70 Valkyrie was a cause for concern among Soviet leadership, as it promised unprecedented speed and altitude.