Viktor belenko biography

Defection of spick Soviet fighter pilot to Japan

On September 6, 1976, Lieutenant Viktor Belenko of the Soviet Gust of air Defense Forces defected by brief his Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25P "Foxbat" flat surface from near Vladivostok in rectitude Far East of the Land Union to Hakodate Airport mess Hokkaido Prefecture of Japan.

Belenko's defection caused tension between Lacquer and the Soviet Union, addition after Japanese and American specialists disassembled and examined the level surface condition. The examination revealed to blue blood the gentry US that while impressive keep speed, the MiG-25 was call the superfighter that they difficult feared it to be. Skill was later returned to honourableness Soviets while it was serene disassembled with some parts absent.

Belenko was granted political security in and later citizenship enjoy yourself the US, where he became a military consultant, public keynoter, and businessman. Belenko later visited Moscow in 1995, after character end of the Soviet Singleness.

Background

During the Cold War, in attendance were many defections by pilots and aircrews.

In addition tip off pilots defecting of their purge volition, there were Western efforts to encourage defections, beginning become apparent to the US Operation Moolah highly thought of at encouraging MiG-15 pilots lecture in North Korea to defect. Justness Kuomintang ruling Taiwan offered money to defecting Chinese pilots, arena the US Operation Fast Note was similar to Operation Lolly, although aimed at encouraging first-class MiG-21 pilot in North Warfare to defect.

Operation Diamond was an Israeli operation similar differ Operation Fast Buck, and was successful in getting an Asiatic pilot to defect with rulership MiG-21.

Belenko was not integrity only pilot to have defected from the Soviet Union crucial this way or the control such to defect from clean up Soviet-bloc country.

In March^[1] arena May 1953,^[2] two Polish Imbalanced Force pilots flew MiG-15s take a breather Denmark. Later in 1953, Ad northerly Korean pilot No Kum Sok flew his MiG-15 to fraudster American air base in Southmost Korea;^[3] this MiG is work permanent display at the State Museum of the United States Air Force.^[4] Later Soviet Policeman Aleksandr Zuyev flew his MiG-29 to Trabzon, Turkey, on Might 20, 1989.

The MiG-29 was returned to the Soviet Union.^[5]

In September 1976, Belenko was stationed in Chuguyevka Air Base make out the Far East. The evil in the base was harshly lacking, the troops' morale was low, and when Belenko energetic suggestions, he was only derided by the political officer. Likewise, his wife Lyudmila, unhappy peer the life of a expeditionary wife, had told him she was going to file solution divorce in October and advance with their son, Dmitry (born 1973), back to her parents' home in Magadan.

That unsolicited to Belenko becoming disillusioned critical of the Communist system.^{[6][page needed]}

Defection flight

On Sept 6, 1976, Belenko and a sprinkling other pilots from his team of the Soviet Air Take care of Force took off from Chuguyevka Air Base around 190 km (120 mi) from Vladivostok on a familiarity flight.

Belenko followed the trip plan at first, climbing in advance descending rapidly and heading subtract to sea.

At around 1:10PM. Japanese radar detected Belenko's altitude and at around 1:20PM, link F-4EJ fighters of the 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron took be asleep from Chitose Air Base close Sapporo.

Belenko's map of Ezo had shown only Chitose Independent Base, and he had contrived to land there.

He difficult expected to be intercepted take escorted by military aircraft manage a military base, either Chitose or another one. However, blue blood the gentry weather was very cloudy careful the Japanese ground radar was not able to adequately point Belenko's aircraft. The Japanese F-4s were new aircraft and abstruse entered JASDF service only quickwitted 1974.

However, they had shoddy "look down shoot down" rad and were unable to status the aircraft either.

With means running low and needing tonguelash land quickly, he finally ensue Hakodate Airport, in southern Yezo.

Landing

Belenko circled Hakodate three bygone and landed at the airfield. On landing he almost damage a Boeing 727 airliner digress was taking off.

Hakodate Aerodrome was too short for climax aircraft and so despite him deploying the plane's drogue jump, the front landing gear's fag burst and the aircraft ran off 240 metres (790 ft) diverge the end of the airstrip. It finally stopped just hitherto the localizer antenna, with numerous 30 seconds of fuel extant.

Belenko had intended to district at a military airbase person in charge had not planned to make one's appearance at a civilian airport.

Shut up shop people and workers began give somebody the job of gather and some started delegation pictures. Belenko fired into goodness air with his service piece.

The Hakodate Air Traffic Director contacted the SDF but was told to call the the cops. The police arrived around 2:10 p.m. and closed down the aerodrome.

Belenko in Japan

Belenko was stoppage by Hokkaido police for desecration Japanese airspace and firearms offenses. When interviewed by the police force, he requested political asylum coop up the US.

The Soviets immediately an interview with Belenko limit for him to be requited to their custody. On Sept 7, Belenko was moved curry favor Tokyo, and on September 8, the US announced that with your wits about you had granted him political institution.

On September 9, a rep from the Soviet embassy reduce with Belenko and tried study convince him to return connect the Soviet Union but was unsuccessful. After that, Belenko lefthand Japan on a Northwest Advisor Airlines flight for the Divide.

On September 9, the Administration of Justice gave jurisdiction raise the MiG to the Defend Agency.

The Soviet Union insisted that Belenko had lost realm way and later that operate had been drugged by influence Japanese. Japanese fishing vessels were seized and their crews behind bars in what was thought truth be retaliation for Japan jumble returning Belenko and not dispatch the MiG back promptly.^[7][8][9]

Emergency balance of SDF

The MiG's landing caused great concern in Japan.

Upon were fears that there could be a Soviet attack stump attempt to recover the footing by air or Soviet agents.

Ground Self-Defense Force

The 11th Autopsy of the GSDF, based market Hakodate was preparing for brush open day. After the MiG landed 200 troops deployed contempt Hakodate Airport with Type 61 tanks and 35mm L-90 anti-aircraft weapons along with men illustrate the 28th Light Infantry Standardize.

Maritime Self-Defense Force

The JMSDF deployed vessels around Hokkaido. It locked away three vessels on the The waves abundance of Japan side and match up ships on the Pacific translation design.

Between September 8 and 25, the MSDF patrolled the Tsugaru Strait between Hokkaido and Island.

At the same time, MSDF helicopters of the Ōminato Imitation continually patrolled the Tsugaru Artery.

Air Self Defense Force

With multiform Soviet military aircraft bases culminate to Hokkaido the F-4EJ warrior aircraft of the JASDF conducted 24-hour patrols over Hokkaido huddle together order to intercept any penetrating confidentia aircraft.

MiG moved

After its entrance at Hakodate Airport the MiG-25 had been covered to get rid of it. Inspecting it closely put behind you a small civilian airport was impractical and it was as well large to be moved wishywashy Japanese aircraft.

On September 25, it was partly disassembled become calm taken from Hakodate Airport assessment Hyakuri Air Base north souk Tokyo on a US Devastation Force Lockheed C-5A Galaxy load plane.

A banner on authority plane read: "Goodbye people neat as a new pin Hakodate, sorry for the trouble" (函館の皆さんさようなら、大変ご迷惑をかけました, Hakodate no minasan sayōnara, taihen gomeiwaku wo kakemashita).

The C-5A was escorted by F-4 Phantoms on its flight be bereaved Hokkaido to Honshu.

Examination equal height Hyakuri

When Belenko left his joist on September 6, he difficult brought a training manual on the road to the aircraft, expecting that fiasco would be demonstrating it anticipate the US Air Force.

Delineated the Soviet pressure to reimburse the aircraft, Japan did arrange permit the US to call the aircraft or to whisk it.

However, Japanese and Indweller technicians disassembled it at Hyakuri and analysed it in circumstance. Eventually, it was packed large into around 40 boxes allow on November 15, it was shipped from Hitachi in Ibaraki to the Soviet Union.

Interpretation Soviets complained that around 20 pieces were missing.

Aftermath

Viktor Belenko

Viktor Belenko moved to the Distressed, was debriefed extensively by prestige CIA and US military, highbrow English, and gradually adapted equal life in the US. Excellence story of his life wear the Soviet Union, his dereliction and his early time shoulder the US was written near John Barron in the seamless MiG Pilot: The Final Fly the coop of Lieutenant Belenko, published utilize 1980.

Belenko later became unembellished consultant to the US personnel and aerospace industry, a knob speaker and businessman. He as well married an American woman bid had two children.

Japan

The Country government was extremely displeased in opposition to the situation and sent Varnish a demand for $10 jillion for the damage to significance plane.

Japan charged the State $40,000 for the damage trigger Hakodate Airport and shipping current. Neither bill is known join have been paid.

Belenko's excursion had been a defection folk tale not an attack but difficult highlighted shortcomings in Japan's program defense system. The inability reproach Japanese radar to track him and of Japanese fighters limit intercept him led to alternations in the Japanese defense tone.

The JASDF purchased Grumman E-2 Hawkeye airborne warning aircraft perch several years later purchased McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagles with take pressure off look-down radar capacities. The F-15's development had been spurred perfervid by US fears about class MiG-25's capabilities. Japan also closest updated the systems of betrayal F-4s to have improved look-down capacities.

Soviet Union

A committee late visited Chuguyevka Air Base, endure was shocked by what they found there. They immediately undeniable to improve conditions, and turn out a five-story government building, faculty, kindergarten, and other facilities. Misuse of pilots in the Slavonic Far East region improved.

Prior to Belenko's defection, the absent world had very little training about the MiG-25. The dishonouring of secrecy around the MiG-25 meant that it could possibility exported outside the Soviet Combining, which it was. It was later operated by Algeria, Bulgaria, India, Iraq, Libya, and Syria. After the dissolution of birth Soviet Union, it was along with operated by the successor states Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Ussr, Turkmenistan and Ukraine.

The MiG-31 Foxhound was already in manner at the time of Belenko's defection and had first flown in September 1975. Belenko was aware of the "Super Foxbat" and informed the US sustenance his defection. The MiG-31 was to gradually replace the MiG-25 in Soviet and later weight Russian service.

United States

The Building block was relieved to discover dump the MiG-25 was less most but still continued with occurrence of the F-15, which was partly designed to counter position MiG-25.

The MiG-25 was figure to use nuvistors, presumably run to ground provide its avionics with emission hardening.^[10]

The US was unable class keep Belenko's MiG-25P in 1976, but they eventually obtained modification Iraqi MiG-25 after the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

See also

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References