U-2 To Be Retired

[Robert Cooper]

Although the U-2 can it traces its history back to the Cold War, recent upgrades have made it far more useful than any alternative currently available. However, it is being retired because the current administration says it can’t afford to sustain both U-2 and a long-range surveillance drone called the Global Hawk.

But can the Global Hawk perform the same wide range of missions that the U-2 can perform?

Bob C

[air pig]

Yet again and no it can't replace Global Hawk/

[Robert Cooper]

I guess my point is: Why now? the U-2 has a far better sensor package and better cameras than the Global Hawk, which is some years away from being at the same standard. So why not delay the U-2 retirement until the Global Hawk ISR capability is at the same level?

Bob C

[Dysonsphere]

Money my dear boy Money

[hoodie]

Or [crashing Minor chord] there's something else out there... :eek:

[MPN11]

Absolutely ... one fewer type in the inventory, with all the extensive and exclusive mission support it entails (c.f. A-10).

[air pig]

But the Europeans (EU) don't like UAVs in their airspace they have no control over. global hawk, too small as has been stated.

The actual airframe cost is probably not that expensive as most of the systems are OTS, it's the sensor packages that cost, training, if you can have civilians wearing space suits then highly trained military pilots as has been proved is not a problem.

Lose the capability and you may not get it back, damn 'bean counters' when did they ever win a war, REMFs all of them.

[Archimedes]

I was under the impression that Congress had blocked any attempt to retire the U-2 (and the A-10 for that matter) during 2015? AIUI, the National Defense Authorization Act prevents the USAF from spending any money on the process of retiring the aircraft. Perhaps our US-based Ppruners could clarify?

[tdracer]

Don't worry, they'll replace it with the new reconnaissance 'D' version of F-35 :} (anyone out there good enough with Photoshop to graft some glider wings onto an F-35 fuselage?:E)

[downsizer]

I wish they'd retire. Been making a racket for years now and bono must be right up his own arse.

[Bevo]

Or [crashing Minor chord] there's something else out there... :eek:
Maybe this:
A large, classified unmanned aircraft developed by Northrop Grumman is now flying—and it demonstrates a major advance in combining stealth and aerodynamic efficiency. Defense and intelligence officials say the secret unmanned aerial system (UAS), designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, is scheduled to enter production for the U.S. Air Force and could be operational by 2015. http://aviationweek.com/ (http://aviationweek.com/defense/secret-new-uas-shows-stealth-efficiency-advances)

[Martin the Martian]

downsizer, I have coffee all over my keyboard, screen and up my nose now, you bounder.

:D

[racedo]

(anyone out there good enough with Photoshop to graft some glider wings onto an F-35 fuselage?:E)

Yup but will cost you $50 million in concept and test design pus $20 Million in feasability. Then Barry will photoshop it in 30 minutes, change the colors and we will take 3 months to write the report which suggests its possible but with major structural changes to the airframe all for $500 Million per aircarft.

[racedo]

I wish they'd retire. Been making a racket for years now and bono must be right up his own arse.

So far up that his tonsils are obscuring his vision.

[air pig]

Bevo:

Is that a remote controlled U2?

[tartare]

Agree.
Albums went downhill after Boy.
And Bono's only mildly less irritating than that prat Geldof.
That's a very interesting article Bevo.
Had read about the`big' Sentinel and seen the wrapped in white plastic Groom Lake photos of the unidentified air-frame.
I wonder if we're entering a new era where these intriguing black UAVs remain out of the public eye for much longer before eventually being revealed to the white world - because UASs require less money and time to develop than a much larger and more complex manned equivalent.
Easier to hide an RQ-180 or a Polecat than an SR-71.
Interesting too that the Pentagon says it's learned there's utility in more widely sharing the capability of these secret platforms across the various branches of the military, rather than keeping them super-classified inside SCA programs.

[Thelma Viaduct]

Achtung Baby is their best album. :ok:

[PICKS135]

Didnt we retire the PR.9 only to find 6 months later that we needed them, and the drones couldnt hack it.

I know technology has changed since then.

[romeo bravo]

Bevo - I think its Apple controlled. At least we know its stealthy; appears on system without your knowledge or permission. :p

[Bevo]

My guess is that it is big and expensive.

[ORAC]

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/u-2-retirement-moves-forward-with-defense-secretary-decision

U-2 Retirement Moves Forward With Defense Secretary Decision

The U.S. Air Force's proposed plans to retire all of its iconic U-2 Dragon Lady (https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/the-u-2-dragon-lady-as-you-have-never-seen-it-before) spy planes by 2026 (https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/u-2-dragon-lady-spy-planes-are-facing-the-axe-again-report) have taken a major step forward with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's signing of a critical waiver to make the controversial move a reality.

This mechanism allows the Secretary of Defense to jettison congressional requirements that would ensure the capabilities lost by the end of the U-2 program would be replaced in a cost-effective manner.

The Pentagon wants supplant the U-2s with a mix of space-based systems and other assets, widely believed to include one or more (https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/secret-skunk-works-spy-drone-delivered-to-air-force-report) advanced, high-flying, classified drones, but it isn't clear when those capabilities will be fully available in sufficient quantities.

A Department of Defense official confirmed today to The War Zone that Secretary Austin had signed the waiver. When exactly the waiver was signed is unknown, but independent aviation journalist and U-2 expert Chris Pocock wrote (https://dragonladytoday.com/2023/10/12/only-two-more-years-for-the-dragon-lady/) in an October 12 blog post that the Air Force had told him it was "still in staffing."…..

[dead_pan]

Of course, the bigger question is what will happens to all those Dodge Charger chase cars? TBH its more fun watching them haul ar*e along the runway than it is watching the hairyplane itself.

[downsizer]

I wish they'd retire. Been making a racket for years now and bono must be right up his own arse.

Just quoting myself here because I stand by this statement.

[HOVIS]

Don't worry, they'll replace it with the new reconnaissance 'D' version of F-35 :} (anyone out there good enough with Photoshop to graft some glider wings onto an F-35 fuselage?:E)
On a recent visit to a museum I was quite taken aback when I noticed the wingspan of the Global Hawk is longer than the U2.

[Lonewolf_50]

Was involved (a little bit) in some operational evals of Global Hawk back in the 00's. I was given to understand that it would replace the U-2.
It's nearly 20 years later and the U-2 is still flying.
Pretty impressive life span, right up there with the Buff.

[GeeRam]

Of course, the bigger question is what will happens to all those Dodge Charger chase cars? TBH its more fun watching them haul ar*e along the runway than it is watching the hairyplane itself.

Chrysler stop making the Charger and Challenger next month, and with it, the curtain finally falls on Mopar V8 engine production cars, so they'll have to buy a GM or Ford if they need to replace the chase cars before they retire the old Dragon Lady.