Paris 2011: USAF Extends Life of Lockheed Martin U-2 as Northrop Grumman Defends Global Hawk’s Failed Evaluation
The U.S.

The U.S. Air Force is adding new sensors to the Lockheed Martin U-2 Dragon Lady and postponing retirement of the veteran spyplane, after the Northrop Grumman Global Hawk UAV failed an operational test and evaluation (OT&E). Meanwhile, Northrop Grumman has mounted a stout defense of its high-altitude reconnaissance drone, and Pentagon acquisition czar Ashton Carter said the Global Hawk was still “essential to national security.”

The planned out-of-service-date for the U-2 has been changed from Fiscal Year 2013 to FY 2016, therefore justifying some new investment. It still flies daily reconnaissance missions from bases in the Mediterranean, the Gulf and Korea.