Key Points and Summary – Lockheed’s SR-71 was designed to be untouchable—fast, high, and hard to see. Over the Baltic, however, Sweden’s Saab JA-37 Viggen proved uniquely capable of radar-locking and visually intercepting Blackbirds that ran the “Baltic Express.”
-Meticulous training and avionics gave Viggen pilots multiple successful “hot” merges.
SR-71 Blackbird. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
-In 1987, after an SR-71 lost an engine and descended, Swedish fighters formed an escort as Soviet MiG-25s shadowed, guiding the Blackbird safely toward Denmark.
-The episode highlights two truths: the SR-71’s survivability depended on impeccable ops and routing, and the Viggen—often underestimated—could reach, lock, and, when it mattered, protect the world’s fastest jet.
Radar Lock On SR-71? Only The Saab JA-37 Viggen Did It
The Swedish Saab JA-37 Viggen was an excellent fighter aircraft for the Swedish Air Force. It also has the distinction of being the only aircraft to actually be able to radar lock onto an SR-71 while flying over the route known as the “Baltic Express,” and then provide cover from Soviet MiG-25s for an SR-71 that suffered from mechanical failure over the Baltic.
The SR-71 Blackbird Was One of a Kind
The SR-71 Blackbird is a fantastic aircraft. It was designed and built by Clarence “Kelly” Johnson’s Lockheed “Skunk Works” in Burbank, California. It was intended to be a long-range, high-altitude, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft.
The CIA approached Johnson about finding a replacement for the U-2 spy plane, which could fly at extreme altitudes but was slow. Johnson’s Skunk Works produced the aircraft, which was first called the YF-12. However, General Curtis LeMay, the Air Force Chief of Staff, wanted it renamed the SR-71, with the SR referring to the aircraft type as “Strategic Reconnaissance.”
A total of 32 SR-71s were built: 29 SR-71As, two SR-71Bs, and one SR-71C. Johnson designed the aircraft with the smallest cross-sectional radar profile possible, one of the earliest attempts at achieving stealth. Two Pratt and Whitney J-58 engines powered it, allowing it to reach a speed of Mach 3.2 or higher, equivalent to approximately 2,200 mph. The service ceiling was 85,000 feet.
SR-71 Blackbird. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
SR-71. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Viggen Pilots Radar Intercept SR-71s Over The Baltic
Swedish Viggen pilots trained themselves to track the famous Blackbirds as they flew along the same repeated flight path over the Baltic Sea, commonly known as the “Baltic Express.”
“The most spectacular alerts in the Swedish Air Force during the eighties occurred about once a week, when the Blackbird was operating in the Baltic. These were also probably the most frustrating events of the entire Cold War, with our fighters trying to reach the same altitude and position as this high-speed, high altitude target, efforts which, if successful, would allow the fortunate pilot to catch a brief glimpse of the fantastic SR-71 at quite close quarters,” recalled Rolf Jonnson, a Swedish air controller.
“In total, I have five hot intercepts against the SR-71 to my credit,” said Per-Olof Eldh, Swedish Air Force JA-37 Viggen pilot. “All can be described as successful. I was visual three times; on a couple of occasions, the SR-71 was contrailing, which was very useful because you could do a visual check to ensure you ended up in the right spot!”
While the United States didn’t formally see the then-neutral Sweden as a threat, and as such, there was little mission planning oriented toward mitigating these intercepts.
However, as the Swedish pilots overcame technical hurdles through practice and planning, it stands to reason that SR-71 crews could have made these intercepts much more difficult by adjusting their flight paths and other factors. As Alex Hollings wrote, the SR-71’s success against enemy defenses was as much a product of operational planning as it was of cutting-edge technology.
The JA-37 Viggen Escorts A Stricken Blackbird
The Saab JA-37 Viggen is famous for its 1987 incident, where Swedish Viggens escorted a damaged SR-71 Blackbird that had lost an engine over the Baltic Sea, saving it from potential Soviet interceptors and securing its safe passage to Germany.
The incident highlighted the Viggen’s advanced avionics, which enabled it to achieve a missile lock on the much faster SR-71, a feat unique among foreign fighter jets.
A Swedish Viggen pilot told his story of escorting an SR-71 aircraft that suffered engine failure flying at Mach 3 at 68,000 feet with several MiG-25s in hot pursuit. The Soviet pilots were demanding that the SR-71, which had decelerated and dropped in altitude to 25,000 feet, land at the nearest Soviet airfield or be shot down.
SR-71 and SR-71 Nose Section Original Photo from NSJ.
SR-71 Side Angle National Security Journal Original Photo.
The Swedish pilot escorted the stricken SR-71 to Danish airspace, where he later said, “It was almost unbelievable to fly close to this beautiful and impressive machine. We kept that position for the next six minutes or so, until we reached Danish airspace.
“I then landed back in Ängelholm, but my wingman landed in Karlsborg after having some minor problems with his avionic systems. Throughout the incident, I intended to try to help fellow pilots who were in trouble.”
The good news is that now that Sweden is a fellow member of NATO, it won’t have to fly intercepts against American aircraft in the future. But they can rest easy in the knowledge that they can.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in other military publications.
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