Belenko was born in Nalchik , Russian SFSR , in a Ukrainian family . Lieutenant Belenko was a pilot with the 513th Fighter Regiment , 11th Air Army , Soviet Air Defence Forces based in Chuguyevka , Primorsky Krai . On 6 September 1976 , he successfully defected to the West , flying his MiG-25 " Foxbat " jet fighter to Hakodate , Japan
defected
Defection of Viktor Belenko
Viktor Belenko