The SR-71 could fly at over Mach 3 (three times the speed of sound) and at altitudes exceeding 85,000 feet—well beyond the reach of most Soviet fighter jets and surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). When Soviet radar systems detected an SR-71 entering their airspace, they would typically launch interceptors like the MiG-25 (Foxbat) and deploy SAMs, particularly the advanced SA-2 and SA-5 missiles.
However, the Blackbird’s speed advantage meant it could simply accelerate away from threats, and its sophisticated electronic countermeasures could jam or evade incoming missiles.
Soviet fighter pilots, including those flying the MiG-25—an interceptor specifically designed to counter high-speed, high-altitude threats—repeatedly tried to intercept the SR-71. Yet, even the MiG-25 struggled to match the Blackbird’s speed, and pilots would often report seeing the American spy plane as a distant speck disappearing over the horizon.
Official records indicate that more than 4,000 Soviet missiles were fired at SR-71s during the Cold War, but not a single one was ever hit. The Blackbird’s combination of speed, altitude, and advanced defensive technology allowed it to maintain a perfect record of avoiding enemy fire throughout its operational life.