Mig-31 vs SR-71 - I don't think so....

[Catmando]

Re. the article about "How the Mig-31 repelled the SR-71 Blackbird from Soviet skies"

"Myagkiy and its Weapons System Officer (WSO) were able to achieve a SR-71 lock on at 52,000 feet and at a distance of 120 Km from the target.

"The Foxhound climbed at 65,676 feet where the crew had the Blackbird in sight and according to Myagkiy:"

“Had the spy plane violated Soviet airspace, a live missile launch would have been carried out. There was no practically chance the aircraft could avoid an R-33 missile.”

"After this interception Blackbirds reportedly began to fly their reconnaissance missions from outside the borders of the Soviet Union." [Really?]

"But the MiG-31s intercepted the SR-71 at least another time...."


Related:

 

[Renegade One]

Re. the article about "How the Mig-31 repelled the SR-71 Blackbird from Soviet skies"

First one to the black board still wins, I guess...

 

[Fallonflyr]

We used to intimidate by overflight with style and elegance...this was no RC aircraft with a snow mobile engine.

 

[jmcquate]

Have no idea about the validity of the MiG driver's claim (most likely BS), but overflights of the Soviet Union by manned assets pretty much, if not completely ended after the Powers shoot down. The SRs had side looking high aperture radars that enabled them to complete missions without entering Soviet airspace. If the story in the article is remotely true, it sounds like the Blackbird was on a training mission.