Saab 37 Viggen Fighter: The only jet to catch the SR-71 Blackbird

Summary and Key Points: The SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest plane to ever fly, retired decades ago but remains unmatched in legacy despite modern jets like the F-22 and F-35.

-Known as the “Baltic Express”, the SR-71 aircraft flew surveillance flights over the Baltic Sea during the Cold War. Due to the increased speed of the Blackbird, the Swedish Saab JA-37 was able to lock onto the Viggen SR-71, an unusual feat.

-Per-Olof Eldh, a former Swedish pilot, successfully intercepted the SR-71 five times.

-In 1987, Swedish Viggens also escorted a distressed SR-71 to safety, highlighting the cooperative efforts during the Cold War.

SR-71 Blackbird vs. Saab 37 Viggen: A Cold War Aerial Encounter

Decades ago, the fastest airliner in history was decommissioned. During the Cold War, the US-built SR-71 Blackbird achieved unprecedented success thanks to its sophisticated electronics, avionics and technology.

The legacy of the Mach 3.0-capable Blackbird is still unmatched, even in light of the advances of contemporary fighters such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. The Swedish Saab JA-37 jet is the only aircraft to ever lock a missile onto a Blackbird, so it deserves its own mention.

How a Swedish Aircraft Nearly Caught Up With a Blackbird

SR-71s during the Cold War were tasked with flying the same repeated pattern over the Baltic Sea, a route referred to as the “Baltic Express.” 

The Saab J-35F Dracon platform was in use by the Swedish Air Force at the time. The airframe was too primitive to compete with the Blackbird. But its successor, the Saab J-37 Vigen, had more improved avionics that allowed it to get closer to the Blackbird in flight.

Compared to the SR-71’s Mach-3.0 peak speed, the Viggen was still relatively sluggish, topping out at Mach 2.1. Despite this difference in capability, the Blackbird’s regularity of flight, excellent mission planning and exceptional piloting abilities enabled one of the Swedish fighters to “lock on” to the Blackbird.

“I have a total of five hot intercepts against the SR-71,” said Per-Olof Eldh, a former JA-37 pilot in the Swedish Air Force. They all qualify as successful. I was visible three times; The SR-71 was reversed on several occasions, which was really helpful because it allowed you to visually double-check your position!”

Once Eldh was able to lock on, he of course did not fire. The two planes merely crossed paths and gained visual contact with one another.

Saab 37 Viggens Also Rescued a Blackbird in Trouble

Although this event marked the first successful interception and “lock” on a Blackbird, it is important to remember that the American pilots were not trying to get away from the adapted airframes known as Viggens. In any case, the Swedish pilot showed remarkable talent and intelligence.

When an SR-71 suffered an engine explosion in 1987 and had to be safely grounded, the Viggen-Blackbird combo grabbed headlines once again. At such a low altitude, the SR-71 would have been more susceptible to Soviet attack, so the Swedish Air Force quickly diverted two of its Vigens to assist. With the help of Swedish airframes, the Blackbird eventually made a safe landing in West Germany.

About the Author: Maya Carlin 

Maya Carlin is a national security writer for The National Interest. She was previously an Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel and is an analyst at the Center for Security Policy. Her byline has been used by numerous publications such as The National Interest, The Jerusalem Post, and The Times of Israel.

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