To help put the SR-71’s incredible speed into perspective, Russian pilot, Viktor Belenko, stated, “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.”

When asked about any missions to try to intercept and shoot down any SR-71s, Belenko said, “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.”

The SR-71 Blackbird owned the Cold War, and it may have been vital to help keep peace between the two superpowers.