@ Hamilcar

 

> Around 365 F-15A's and 61 F-15B's were produced between 1972 and 1979,

 

So? There are a couple dozen F-35s around, even though they aren't introduced yet. And your own quoted article says otherwise(the proof that you didn't read your own source)

"In the 1967 Domodevo Air Show the Soviet Union introduced two new fighters: the swing-wing MiG-23 and the fast MiG-25. Americans laughed at the MiG-24, but USAF inflated the MiG-25 into a serious threat."

"Tactical Air Command wanted the F-X to have a top speed of Mach 3.0"

"The Navy said that the F-X top speed was too slow compared to the MiG-25 for which the development of the F-X should be cancelled."

"The USAF countered these accusations by saying that the F-X had a dash speed of Mach 2.5, which combined with the AIM-7 Sparrow missile would be sufficient to counter the MiG-25."

 You can clearly see Mig-25 influencing the designs of F-15.

I know what I posted and why. 12 experimental is not 365 produced for example.

Obvious flying turkeys (to us) at an air show were not a crisis. Vietnam WAS. As we already knew from our A-12 and the SR-71, the popular reports of the Mig-25 around 1971 were technological hogwash-which was also the date the F-15 was production design finalized based on the history I gave you. Radar also doesn't lie when you know how to use it to evaluate an enemy recon bird as it flies over. it also helps if you know your enemy's jet engine tech tree. We did all those things. We knew what we faced. It sometimes helps to perpetuate a myth to get what you want.

 

Once again, you demonstrate BASIC ignorance.