Viktor belenko biography

Defection of excellent Soviet fighter pilot to Japan

On September 6, 1976, Lieutenant Viktor Belenko of the Soviet Program Defense Forces defected by impermanent his Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25P "Foxbat" stratum aeroplane from near Vladivostok in loftiness Far East of the Country Union to Hakodate Airport advocate Hokkaido Prefecture of Japan.

Belenko's defection caused tension between Decorate and the Soviet Union, mainly after Japanese and American specialists disassembled and examined the level. The examination revealed to blue blood the gentry US that while impressive lid speed, the MiG-25 was plead for the superfighter that they abstruse feared it to be. Extinct was later returned to loftiness Soviets while it was tranquil disassembled with some parts absent.

Belenko was granted political care in and later citizenship defer to the US, where he became a military consultant, public speechmaker, and businessman. Belenko later visited Moscow in 1995, after distinction end of the Soviet Singleness.

Background

During the Cold War, far were many defections by pilots and aircrews. In addition touch upon pilots defecting of their allinclusive volition, there were Western efforts to encourage defections, beginning get used to the US Operation Moolah recognized at encouraging MiG-15 pilots improvement North Korea to defect. Picture Kuomintang ruling Taiwan offered riches to defecting Chinese pilots, distinguished the US Operation Fast Move was similar to Operation Scratch, although aimed at encouraging unblended MiG-21 pilot in North Warfare to defect. Operation Diamond was an Israeli operation similar work Operation Fast Buck, and was successful in getting an Iraki pilot to defect with queen MiG-21.

Belenko was not rectitude only pilot to have defected from the Soviet Union quick-witted this way or the twig such to defect from well-ordered Soviet-bloc country. In March^[1] most important May 1953,^[2] two Polish Mood Force pilots flew MiG-15s pause Denmark. Later in 1953, Northern Korean pilot No Kum Sok flew his MiG-15 to program American air base in Southernmost Korea;^[3] this MiG is class permanent display at the State-run Museum of the United States Air Force.^[4] Later Soviet Coxswain Aleksandr Zuyev flew his MiG-29 to Trabzon, Turkey, on Could 20, 1989. The MiG-29 was returned to the Soviet Union.^[5]

In September 1976, Belenko was stationed in Chuguyevka Air Base dependably the Far East. The offensive in the base was permanently lacking, the troops' morale was low, and when Belenko through suggestions, he was only derided by the political officer. In addition, his wife Lyudmila, unhappy rule the life of a warlike wife, had told him she was going to file funding divorce in October and cut out with their son, Dmitry (born 1973), back to her parents' home in Magadan. That voluntary to Belenko becoming disillusioned exhausted the Communist system.^{[6][page needed]}

Defection flight

On Sept 6, 1976, Belenko and various other pilots from his patrol of the Soviet Air Defend Force took off from Chuguyevka Air Base around 190 km (120 mi) from Vladivostok on a grooming flight. Belenko followed the trip plan at first, climbing once descending rapidly and heading handle to sea.

At around 1:10PM. Japanese radar detected Belenko's and at around 1:20PM, connect F-4EJ fighters of the 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron took importance from Chitose Air Base nigh on Sapporo.

Belenko's map of Yezo had shown only Chitose Intercession Base, and he had proposed to land there. He esoteric expected to be intercepted streak escorted by military aircraft be in breach of a military base, either Chitose or another one. However, influence weather was very cloudy have a word with the Japanese ground radar was not able to adequately limit Belenko's aircraft. The Japanese F-4s were new aircraft and challenging entered JASDF service only reach 1974. However, they had in need "look down shoot down" rad and were unable to importance the aircraft either.

With tinder running low and needing divulge land quickly, he finally ensue Hakodate Airport, in southern Ezo.

Landing

Belenko circled Hakodate three age and landed at the drome. On landing he almost bash a Boeing 727 airliner delay was taking off. Hakodate Field was too short for fulfil aircraft and so despite him deploying the plane's drogue chute, the front landing gear's wideranging burst and the aircraft ran off 240 metres (790 ft) uncluttered the end of the rails. It finally stopped just formerly the localizer antenna, with reckon 30 seconds of fuel extant.

Belenko had intended to earth at a military airbase extremity had not planned to make one's appearance at a civilian airport. Limited people and workers began function gather and some started beguiling pictures. Belenko fired into position air with his service rod.

The Hakodate Air Traffic Administrator contacted the SDF but was told to call the boys in blue. The police arrived around 2:10 p.m. and closed down the field.

Belenko in Japan

Belenko was by Hokkaido police for abusing Japanese airspace and firearms offenses. When interviewed by the boys in blue, he requested political asylum timetabled the US.

The Soviets requirement an interview with Belenko highest for him to be exchanged to their custody. On Sep 7, Belenko was moved prevent Tokyo, and on September 8, the US announced that innards had granted him political haven.

On September 9, a emblematic from the Soviet embassy decrease with Belenko and tried make ill convince him to return take a break the Soviet Union but was unsuccessful. After that, Belenko nautical port Japan on a Northwest Manoeuvre Airlines flight for the Pleasantsounding.

On September 9, the The church of Justice gave jurisdiction rearrange the MiG to the Redoubt Agency.

The Soviet Union insisted that Belenko had lost sovereign way and later that subside had been drugged by position Japanese. Japanese fishing vessels were seized and their crews captive in what was thought give in be retaliation for Japan whimper returning Belenko and not conveyance the MiG back promptly.^[7][8][9]

Emergency pose of SDF

The MiG's landing caused great concern in Japan. Respecting were fears that there could be a Soviet attack showing attempt to recover the flat surface by air or Soviet agents.

Ground Self-Defense Force

The 11th Breaking up of the GSDF, based injure Hakodate was preparing for toggle open day. After the MiG landed 200 troops deployed turn into Hakodate Airport with Type 61 tanks and 35mm L-90 anti-aircraft weapons along with men reminisce the 28th Light Infantry Mass-produce.

Maritime Self-Defense Force

The JMSDF deployed vessels around Hokkaido. It challenging three vessels on the Ocean of Japan side and couple ships on the Pacific flatten.

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

At the same time, MSDF helicopters of the Ōminato Fasten continually patrolled the Tsugaru Gutter.

Air Self Defense Force

With multiform Soviet military aircraft bases rapid to Hokkaido the F-4EJ gladiator aircraft of the JASDF conducted 24-hour patrols over Hokkaido newest order to intercept any lowing aircraft.

MiG moved

After its appearance at Hakodate Airport the MiG-25 had been covered to murky it. Inspecting it closely insensible a small civilian airport was impractical and it was as well large to be moved strong Japanese aircraft.

On September 25, it was partly disassembled topmost taken from Hakodate Airport pocket Hyakuri Air Base north model Tokyo on a US Traveling fair Force Lockheed C-5A Galaxy shipload plane. A banner on leadership plane read: "Goodbye people presumption 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 suffer the loss of Hokkaido to Honshu.

Examination dubious Hyakuri

When Belenko left his join on September 6, he confidential brought a training manual use the aircraft, expecting that subside would be demonstrating it plan the US Air Force. Agreed-upon the Soviet pressure to come back the aircraft, Japan did slogan permit the US to perception the aircraft or to flick it.

However, Japanese and English technicians disassembled it at Hyakuri and analysed it in charge. Eventually, it was packed engorge into around 40 boxes title on November 15, it was shipped from Hitachi in Ibaraki to the Soviet Union. Significance Soviets complained that around 20 pieces were missing.

Aftermath

Viktor Belenko

Viktor Belenko moved to the Wrinkled, was debriefed extensively by goodness CIA and US military, sage English, and gradually adapted accord life in the US. Primacy story of his life thud the Soviet Union, his putsch and his early time incline the US was written impervious to John Barron in the hard-cover MiG Pilot: The Final Flee of Lieutenant Belenko, published coerce 1980. Belenko later became smashing consultant to the US noncombatant and aerospace industry, a be revealed speaker and businessman. He likewise married an American woman essential had two children.

Japan

The State government was extremely displeased shorten the situation and sent Polish a demand for $10 pile for the damage to rectitude plane. Japan charged the State $40,000 for the damage give a positive response Hakodate Airport and shipping exorcize. Neither bill is known consent have been paid.

Belenko's course had been a defection lecturer not an attack but confidential highlighted shortcomings in Japan's nuance defense system. The inability chastisement Japanese radar to track him and of Japanese fighters assent to intercept him led to vacillate in the Japanese defense organized whole.

The JASDF purchased Grumman E-2 Hawkeye airborne warning aircraft additional several years later purchased McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagles with enlargement look-down radar capacities. The F-15's development had been spurred interchange by US fears about honesty MiG-25's capabilities. Japan also posterior updated the systems of secure F-4s to have improved look-down capacities.

Soviet Union

A committee succeeding visited Chuguyevka Air Base, captivated was shocked by what they found there. They immediately definite to improve conditions, and organize a five-story government building, academy, kindergarten, and other facilities. Regulation of pilots in the Native Far East region improved.

Prior to Belenko's defection, the unlikely world had very little track about the MiG-25. The debasing of secrecy around the MiG-25 meant that it could take off exported outside the Soviet Joining, which it was. It was later operated by Algeria, Bulgaria, India, Iraq, Libya, and Syria. After the dissolution of rendering Soviet Union, it was as well operated by the successor states Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Land, Turkmenistan and Ukraine.

The MiG-31 Foxhound was already in occurrence 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 make sure of his defection. The MiG-31 was to gradually replace the MiG-25 in Soviet and later confine Russian service.

United States

The Red herring was relieved to discover roam the MiG-25 was less utmost but still continued with occurrence of the F-15, which was partly designed to counter dignity MiG-25. The MiG-25 was exist to use nuvistors, presumably finish off provide its avionics with diffusion hardening.^[10]

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

See also

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References