The US Air Force Is Finally Retiring the U-2 Spy Plane. Here’s Why. |
The US Air Force Is Finally Retiring the U-2 Spy Plane. Here’s Why.
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The U-2 costs more and more to fly, is extremely demanding of its pilots, and is no longer essential for intelligence collection with the advent of drones and satellites.
The U-2 Dragon Lady is nearing retirement after 70 years of service. With a final divestment expected by FY2027, only 20 to 30 aircraft remain in the fleet, as the United States shifts towards satellites and unmanned systems as a means of collecting intelligence.
Amazingly for a platform built in the 1950s, the U-2 still works as intended, demonstrating how far ahead of its time it was when introduced. Its light weight and enormous wings allow it to fly at altitudes exceeding 70,000 feet—higher than most modern fighter jets—while taking crystal-clear pictures of the ground below. Nevertheless, the strategic environment the U-2 finds itself in has shifted dramatically since its introduction in the 1950s, and the venerable ISR aircraft can no longer be feasibly used against near-peer adversary nations as it once was.
The U-2 Dragon Lady’s Specifications
Year Introduced: 1956
Length: 63 ft (19.2 m)
Wingspan: 105 ft (32.0 m)
Weight (Max Takeoff): ~40,000 lb (18,144 kg)
Engine: One General Electric F118-GE-101 turbofan
Thrust: ~17,000 lbf (75.6 kN)
Top Speed: Mach 0.67 (~475 mph / 764 km/h)
Range: ~6,000 nmi (6,900 mi /........