“The SR-71s taunted and toyed with the MiG-25s sent up to intercept them, scooting up to altitudes the Soviet planes could not reach, and circling leisurely above them or dashing off at speeds the Russians could not match”.
Even if the development of the hypersonic strike aircraft dubbed SR-72 has been announced, its predecessor, the iconic Mach 3 SR-71 Blackbird, remains one of the fastest planes ever flown operationally.
When the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft was built, its designer Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson already knew that it would have become vulnerable to enemy defenses. Therefore, to gather intelligence in the skies of foreign countries, in 1964 President Lyndon B. Johnson announced that the Lockheed Advance Development Projects, also known as the Skunk Works, built another strategic reconnaissance aircraft, so fast that no other airplane could reach it: the SR-71 Blackbird.
When the SR-71 entered the active service with the U.S. Air Force, its flight characteristics were incredible: it was able to fly at more than three and a half times the speed of sounds at 88,000 feet, over sixteen miles up. To give an idea of such altitude, the Blackbird took photos from three times the height of Everest and its pilots dressed full pressure suits like astronauts.
During its career, which ceased on Oct. 9 1999 with its last flight, no SR-71 was lost due to hostile actions. In fact, neither enemy fighters nor enemy surface to air missiles (SAM) were ever able to shoot down or damage an SR-71.
But the aircraft was never shot down also because it was hardly detected by enemy radars, being the first aircraft featuring stealth technology. Indeed, for the first time, a special paint was used for Blackbird’s wings, tail and fuselage: since it contained iron ferrites, this paint absorbed radar energy instead of returning it to the sender.
With an RCS (Radar Cross Section) of a small light aircraft, when the SR-71 was found on radar it was too late for a SAM computer to estimate its direction for a successful kill. The range and the bearing of the SR-71 was also denied to the enemy by jamming its devices with the use of the sophisticated electronic countermeasures (ECM) transported by the Blackbird.
Not only did SAMs fail to catch the Blackbird, even the the fastest Soviet fighter jets lacked the necessary speed to reach the SR-71.
Soviet pilot Viktor Belenko, who defected to Japan in a MiG-25 on Dec. 6, 1976, confirmed it in its “MiG Pilot” book: “American reconnaissance planes, SR-71s, were prowling off the coast, staying outside Soviet airspace by photographing terrain hundreds of miles inland with side – angle cameras. They taunted and toyed with the MiG-25s sent up to intercept them, scooting up to altitudes the Soviet planes could not reach, and circling leisurely above them or dashing off at speeds the Russians could not match,” Belenko explained.
However, according to the MiG pilot, Russians tried to intercept and shoot down a Blackbrid, but they always failed this task: “[The Soviets] had a master plan to intercept an SR-71 by positioning a MiG-25 in front of it and one below it, and when the SR-71 passed they would fire missiles. But it never occurred. Soviet computers were very primitive, and there is no way that mission can be accomplished.”
“First of all, the SR-71 flies too high and too fast. The MiG-25 cannot reach it or catch it. Secondly…the missiles are useless above 27,000 meters [88,000 feet], and as you know, the SR-71 cruises much higher. But even if we could reach it, our missiles lack the velocity to overtake the SR-71 if they are fired in a tail chase. And if they are fired head-on, the guidance systems cannot adjust quickly enough to the high closing speed”.
Moreover, as told by the former Blackbird pilot Col. Richard H. Graham in his book “SR-71 The Complete Illustrated History of THE BLACKBIRD The World’s Highest , Fastest Plane”, Belenko’s missiles would have not worked because “Most air- to-air missiles are optimized to maneuver in the thicker air below around 30,000 feet in order to shoot down an enemy plane. Firing at the SR-71, cruising at 75,000 feet, the air is so thin that any maneuvering capability of the missile is practically nonexistent.”
“Speed is the new stealth” is Lockheed Martin’s slogan. But has worked well for the last 60 years….
In 1977 when he defected Soviets were fully aware of the deficiencies of the MiG-25. Its radar had rather big problem with engaging targets below it – emerging tactics among bombers. The missiles it carried indeed were poor match for Sr-71 – they were designed against bombers which MiG-25 was supposed to down.
Now MiG-31 – already produced in 1977 was totally different matter. It had modern radar with match grater range. It also had missiles with much grater range and speed.
MiG-31s did intercept and locked on to SR-71. no SR-71 was downed b/c they simply didn’t enter Soviet Airspace and took photos from just outside of Soviet airspace. At great altitude these cameras could take pictures deep into Soviet territory.
Of note is the fact that MiG-25 shortly after defection was greatly exported to other countries in middle east and to India. Once paper tiger outlived it useful life it was let out of the cage.
Yes, MiG-25 was supposed to down a bomber.. XB-70….
Well, to summarize it up why SR-71 didn’t fly over USSR …:
1. Since 1970 Soviet army has SAM, capable to destroy target as SR-71
with ease. Target as Sr-71 is typical for S-200 (SA-5). Both SA-5 and
SA-2 had nuclear warhead, so in case they where used, no chance for a
lone aircraft to survive. ICBM missiles of USSR also could be used if
needed…
2. MiG-25 and his weapon was specially designed to counter XB-70…
During test phase, MiG-25 managed to shoot down KRM target drones flying at an altitude of 25 km at a speed of 3000 km / h where MiG-25 launched it’s missiles at an altitude of 20 km at its own speed of 2000 km / h
So, even with not 100%, but it is possible even MiG-25-s to destroy SR-71..
http://bereznak.dubna.ru/ber-html/ber-bit/ber-59.jpg
US command was well aware of USSR capabilities, so they didn’t risk their pilots in vain…
Hay, how about using an aircraft like one of these to launch orbital payloads. You could put the rocket on top, release, then fire the rocket. You would save all the rocket fuel, and the structure to hold it. Orbital payloads, could be lofted up into space with a much smaller rocket.
Weight. Don’t think it could carry anything high enough to launch.
Actually the actual high altitude record reached on a jet plane and “still standing” today is 37,680 mt (123,520Ft), obtained in 1977 on a Russian MIG25 Foxbat, piloted by A. Fedotov and the Mig25 Foxbat, which was a fantastic aircraft, the fastest service interceptor of the Soviet Union
in the 70’s, reaching max speed of Mk 3.2, which drove crazy the US until Belenko a Soviet “deserter” was able to steal one landing it in Japan, where US was finally able to view and study it. There also an additional quite an interesting “real” story, not very well known about a XR71 spy plane, which was intercepted in Jan 31,1986 before approaching the Soviet Union at 65.768ft by a Russian MIG31 Foxhound (developed from the MIG25), piloted by Capt. Myagkiy, who was able to get a lock on it with a “R.33” missile and could have positively shoot it down, however the XR71 realized it and very wisely changed course! (The above is public record).
Yet,12 SR-71’s mysteriously got “Lost”! The USAF had no problem explaining ONE of them that crashes during a landing in 1966. BUT, for some reason the USAF has the other 11 Blackbirds mysterious “LOSTS” classified…I wonder WHY? Could they actually have been shot down and the CIA wants to keep the “embarrassment” from the Congress who in turn were itching to develop the B-2 Spirit? OR…were they truly destroyed by accidents…which is still bad, as it tells Congress the quality of work done by Skunkworks!
THIS is how an Pentagon Official put it in his own words:
“…Twelve SR-71s were lost and one pilot died in [accidents] during the aircraft’s service career. Eleven of these [accidents] happened between 1966 and 1972…”
So…HE claims it was accidents. Well, WHY does the USAF not make it known like the 1966 case when the SR-71 landed? It was also an accident?
I…seem to think they were shot down and the US want to save face! BUT…getting the prove is impossible until someone declassifies the cause of 11 SR-71’s being mysteriously “LOST” without ANY reference to the actual cause or reason for it.
On the other hand…perhaps an UFO tugged it with a Tracking Laser and pulled the SR-71’s to the moon and ditched it in some crater! ;-) Freaking hell…with the US, ANY explanation is plausible!