U-2 To Be Retired
 

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

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

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

Money my dear boy Money

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

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

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.

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?

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)

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

Maybe this:
http://aviationweek.com/

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

:D

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.

So far up that his tonsils are obscuring his vision.

Bevo:

Is that a remote controlled U2?

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.

Achtung Baby is their best album. :ok:

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.

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

My guess is that it is big and expensive.