Reprieve Likely for U-2 Dragon Lady | Aviation International News

Reprieve Likely for U-2 Dragon Lady

The U.S. Air Force will postpone plans to retire the high-flying recce jet in 2019-20.

The U-2 Dragon Lady seems likely to fly on for several more years.

By Chris Pocock • Defense Correspondent

March 20, 2017

The U.S. Air Force is preparing to extend the service life of the U-2S Dragon Lady for several more years. Under previous budget plans, the evergreen spyplane was due to be retired in 2019-20, leaving only the unmanned RQ-4B Global Hawk to perform the high-altitude reconnaissance mission. Managers at the Lockheed Martin (LM) Skunk Works in Palmdale, California, are preparing upgrade proposals for the U-2’s sensors and communications fit.

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