The SR-71 Blackbirds were used in intelligence-gathering operations over the Soviet Union and Vietnam.
As Washington and Beijing race to produce the world’s first-ever sixth-generation aircraft, new records surrounding speed, weapons load, stealth, and maneuverability may soon be uncovered. The U.S.-made F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, along with the Chinese-made Chengdu J-20 fighter, are widely considered to represent the best of the best when it comes to aerial prowess. However, none of these fifth-generation platforms beat out a Cold War-era aircraft when it comes to top speed. The SR-71 “Blackbird” broke the world’s record for sustained altitude in horizontal flight in 1976 when it flew at Mach 3.3 (times the speed of sound). As of 2025, no fighter or proposed next-generation fighter for that matter tops that speed.
An Overview of the Blackbird
Lockheed Martin’s infamous Skunk Works division is responsible for developing the legendary SR-71 platform. Spearheaded by Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, the Blackbird project was initially conceptualized to fulfill the CIA’s need for a new spy plane. The intelligence agency had been previously relying on the U-2 Dragon Lady aircraft, but the 1960 downing of Francis Gary Powers’s U-2 over the USSR highlighted the aircraft’s vulnerability against Soviet air defenses. The SR-71 Blackbird project was designed to evolve into a new reconnaissance variant for the agency, but the platform was canceled after only thirty-two of these aircraft were produced.
In order to effectively circumvent the Soviets’ advancing air defenses, the Blackbird first and foremost centered on fast speed. The SR-71 was made to be able to fly at speeds in excess of 2,000 miles per hour so that it could avoid anti-aircraft fire and remain undetectable from adversarial radar. In order for the aircraft to be able to withstand the friction produced by flying so fast, titanium was used along the Blackbird’s exterior. As explained by Lockheed, the ceramic metal soon proved to be a finicky material from which to build an airframe. “The brittle alloy shattered if mishandled, which meant great frustration on the Skunk Works assembly line, and new training classes for Lockheed’s machinists. Conventional cadmium-plated steel tools, it was soon learned, embrittled the titanium on contact; so new tools were designed and fabricated—out of titanium.”
A Short-Lived Service History
Prior to the cancelation of the Blackbird program, the Air Force was able to deploy its acquired SR-71s in combat. Specifically, the service fielded the cutting-edge aircraft in reconnaissance missions during the Vietnam War. The Blackbirds would subsequently be used in intelligence-gathering operations over the Soviet Union alongside the U-2. The winding down of the Cold War, however, ultimately led to the termination of the SR-71 program. In 1990, the platform was officially retired as the Air Force argued it was too pricey to maintain and operate and that emerging technologies including drones and sophisticated satellites rendered the Blackbird useless. The SR-71 did see a quick resurgence in 1993, when Congress reactivated some of these aircraft following Desert Storm. This was short-lived, however, and the Blackbird fleet has remained relegated to retirement ever since. To this day, the legendary platform remains a fan favorite in the aviation community.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: Shutterstock.
