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TLDR: By the 1980s, they had missiles fast enough to shoot one down.


yes and no.

there was only really 1 type of missile that had a chance to shoot a blackbird if it was fired under very specific and tight conditions and timings.

a radar lock is one thing, a kill is another.

as the comments on the article cite, the best probability of a theoretical kill on a blackbird was accomplished by Sweden using Viggen interceptors. Theoretical because they didn't fire.

The USAF acknowledge this with a congratulatory fax to the Swedes.


That is a fax I would love to see.


Ha! If it is not mere lore, I'm sure it is framed and lovingly admired regularly somewhere safe in Sweden.




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