How Fast Is SR-71 Blackbird?

The fastest air-breathing jet aircraft ever built — the SR-71 Blackbird cruised at Mach 3.2 (3,540 km/h). Air friction made the airframe glow red-hot, requiring titanium construction. Its ability to outrun every surface-to-air missile ever fired at it has never been matched.

The SR-71 Blackbird outran every surface-to-air missile ever fired at it — its tactic was simply to accelerate.

• Mach 3.2
• Outran every missile fired at it