Just saw an ABC news brief online at www.yahoo.com that the U2 plane still is in operation in some undesignated capacity. Any idea as to what its role is today in the military? (especially given the advent of satellites)
2007-08-20 21:48:54 · 8 answers · asked by Peter N 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
I heard it was still in use for high atmospheric research, or weather, something like that. It isn't used as a spy plane anymore because it can't fly high enough for today's surface to air missile range.
2007-08-20 21:55:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
High altitude photo-reconaissance; the same role it has had since the 50s; the plane is owned in part by the CIA and the USAF; I think NASA has a couple of them for high altitude weather research.
They use those along with satellites and UAVs.
2007-08-20 21:58:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
One aircraft loss was acknowledged. Pilot was Gary Francis Powers. He was repatriated in a "swap" where a Soviet agent who was captured in Brooklyn (Colonel Abel) was sent back to Soviet control. The swap took place at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin. Mister Powers later became a news helicopter pilot in Los Angeles and died in a crash.
2016-05-18 21:56:45 · answer #3 · answered by mattie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People who think satellites have our reconnaissance needs covered don't understand the limitations of satellites.
2007-08-20 23:16:41 · answer #4 · answered by gunplumber_462 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Its for the battle against the evil sky demons.
2007-08-20 22:22:23 · answer #5 · answered by Commodevil 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
OPSEC!!!
It's role is to spy.
Satelites are great for taking pictures, but not for other things.
2007-08-20 22:00:14 · answer #6 · answered by My world 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to corrode in the desert.
to serve as live ammo target drones.
2007-08-20 22:52:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
its Bush's transportation
2007-08-20 21:56:09 · answer #8 · answered by fishshogun 5 · 0⤊ 5⤋