Summary
- The Lockheed U-2, also known as the Dragon Lady, is a unique reconnaissance plane that has been in service since 1956.
- The U-2 was developed as a response to the need for better aerial reconnaissance capabilities to gather intelligence on the Soviet Union.
- The U-2 operates at altitudes exceeding 70,000 feet and plays a vital role in supplying imagery and signals intelligence for decision-makers in both military and civilian applications.
Anything to do with intelligence and spy planes tends to tickle the fancy of aviation enthusiasts, but none quite so much as the U-2. Nicknamed the Dragon Lady, the Lockheed U-2 is one of the most unique reconnaissance planes in the US Air Force fleet and perhaps the world.
In service since 1956, Lockheed U-2s continue to supply vital intelligence to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). However, according to US Air Force plans, U-2 spy planes will only conduct aerial surveillance for three more years until the program reaches its 70th anniversary in 2026.
Built to snoop on the Soviets
After World War II, the United States feared the spread of Soviet influence and espionage in the US. In light of this, the US military desired better aerial reconnaissance competency to determine the Soviet military capabilities and intentions. The best intelligence Americans had on Soviet facilities at the time were images from Germany's Luftwaffe, taken during WWII of its territory west of the Ural Mountains.
To ponder how to gather more intelligence with the aid of aviation, a committee led by the top echelons of the Air Force was formed in the 1950s. The committee proposed a plane equipped with advanced optics, capable of flying above 70,000 feet (21,300 meters), to ensure that it could escape detection by the existing Soviet fighter planes.
Photo: US Air Force
It is worth noting that existing US reconnaissance planes, like the Boeing RB-47, were vulnerable to Soviet anti-aircraft artillery, missiles, and fighters like the MiG-17 that could fly at an altitude of 45,000 feet (13,700 meters). During the post-war period, the English Electric Canberra was the highest-flying aircraft in use by the US and its allies, with an altitude capability of 48,000 feet (14,600 meters).
In response to the Air Force's vision of creating an aircraft capable of stratospheric flight, Lockheed submitted a proposal that paved the way for the development of the reconnaissance aircraft under the guidance of Clarence Johnson in the company's secret Skunk Works division. The legendary spy plane was introduced in 1956, and a total of 104 U-2 units were built until production ended in 1989.
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The U-2 aircraft has played a vital role in reconnaissance missions. In the early 1960s, images captured by the Dragon Lady confirmed the existence of Soviet nuclear-armed missiles in Cuba. However, the aircraft was not without its share of incidents, as in 1960, when the Soviet Air Defense Forces downed it during a deep photographic aerial reconnaissance mission within Soviet territory.
Flying at 70,000 feet all year long
Operating day and night 24/7/365, the U-2 directly assists the US and its allies to this day. It supplies essential imagery and signals intelligence to inform decision-makers at every stage of conflict, from peacetime indications and warnings to low-intensity conflicts and large-scale hostilities. NASA has also utilized the U-2 for various missions. Most recently, it was deployed to fly into thunderstorms to study super-energetic gamma rays.
Photo:Eugene Berman | Shutterstock
The U-2, with a single pilot and engine, operates routinely at altitudes exceeding 70,000 feet, necessitating the use of a full-pressure suit by the pilot, similar to those used by astronauts. Due to its low-altitude handling characteristics and bicycle-type landing gear, as well as the limited visibility from the co*ckpit, precise control inputs and the assistance of a second pilot in a vehicle for radio inputs during landing are essential.
The U-2 uses a lightweight and fuel-efficient General Electric F118-101 engine, so it does not require mid-air refueling during long missions. The maximum range of the U-2 is 6,090 nautical miles (11,100 kilometers). Throughout the years, the U-2 has received upgrades, yet the fundamental co*ckpit design has remained unchanged for the past 40 years. It is engineered to operate at any time and in all weather conditions.
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Sources: Lockheed Martin, US Air Force
