Improved 'Dragon Lady' still seeks, finds today's prey

  • Published
  • By Sue Baker
  • Aeronautical Systems Center Public Affairs
The 48-year-old U-2 "Dragon Lady" still reigns supreme as the leader among manned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems.

Even with newer, unmanned aerial vehicles like Global Hawk and Predator -- welcomed by increasing numbers of warfighters, and now joining the U-2 in ISR missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom -- the Dragon Lady remains unique among Department of Defense manned systems.

"The airframe is definitely not the same one flown by Francis Gary Powers over Russia in the 1960's," said Col. Joe Chang, director of the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance directorate for the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base, Ga. "It's 40 percent larger, has modern avionics, improved data-links, better fiber-optic electronics, and new General Electric F-118-101 engine, with all-glass cockpit slated for installation on the entire fleet." Today's U-2 also has improved electro-optical, infrared and radar sensors, Chang said.

Traditionally the U-2 has been known for its ability to capture crystal-clear film images of potential enemy areas of interest, which are brought back after missions then processed, developed, analyzed and interpreted by intelligence specialists, Chang said.

"That capability still exists, but has been augmented by the additional, upgraded sensors - plus the U-2's ability to download data in real time via satellite to multiple ground stations located around the world, which transmit the data directly to warfighters," he said.

"The last 10 years have really been the critical time in the life of the U-2," said Maj. Michael Glaccum, U-2 program manager at Air Combat Command headquarters at Langley AFB, Va. His office is responsible for monitoring system assets and funding improvements for the 34-airplane U-2 fleet.

"When Operation Desert Storm kicked off, the U-2 still was primarily a Cold War platform doing some tactical work," Glaccum said. "But then it gained exposure as a tactical, integrated platform that worked closely with aircraft engaged in ground operations, as well as providing significant amounts of battlefield imagery to the Army and others on the ground."

Aeronautical Systems Center's U-2 program office here also provides research and development for future improvements to U-2 systems, said Lt. Col. Bruce Giesige, development systems officer.

A new Dual Data Link System will allow the U-2 to simultaneously 'feed' two ground-based, airborne or space-based sites with data, Giesige said. "It will probably be a year or two before we field this capability, but we think the future of the U-2 program depends on this new ability to beam critical information straight to another platform out there, to dramatically shorten the warfighter's kill chain," he said.

Another significant improvement to the U-2 is network-centric collaborative targeting, where battlefield information from various ISR sensors will be captured and managed at a central location, Glaccum said.

"Ultimately, we want to be included with a feed to the (future Multi-Sensor Command and Control Aircraft) platform, re-designated the E-10," Glaccum said. "Imagine a battlefield area, with ground units, lower-flying fighters, strike-type airplanes, and ISR platforms...ringing the battlefield in various places. Then above it all, you have the U-2, able to feed air-to-air platforms and ground stations simultaneously for maximum interoperability."

Development of direct threat warning for other, nearby aircraft is another U-2 program goal, according to Glaccum.

"We're working to enable our ground stations to broadcast threat warnings to airplanes in theater that may be within the U-2's high-altitude line of sight, but not within LOS of another command/control platform or ground station," he said.

According to Bob Becker, U-2 acquisition program manager at ASC, the program office will soon be fielding an advanced defensive system that will improve situational awareness for U-2 pilots. Another new capability will transmit threat information directly to the cockpit, Glaccum said.

The new glass cockpit is a "complete replacement" of the 1960's-vintage cockpit instruments with three, multi-function, full-color displays, Glaccum said. "These displays put all flight information - plus current status of the engine, avionics, sensors and moving map - right in front of the pilot, which makes it a lot easier to avoid information overload."

The first glass cockpit-equipped U-2 was delivered to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale AFB, Calif., in April 2002, Glaccum said. The entire fleet will have glass cockpits by about 2008, he said.