Manned ISR

Latest in Manned ISR

Members of Congress are again moving to block the U.S. Air Force from retiring all of its U-2S Dragon Lady spy planes. This time, legislators also want to compel the service to "fully restore" a quartet of the iconic aircraft through depot maintenance.

Four U-2S Spy Planes Would Be Restored In Bill That Would Save The Dragon Lady Fleet

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted Yesterday

On the 80th anniversary of the first flight of the de Havilland Canada Chipmunk basic trainer, an aircraft that generations of British military pilots learned to fly, it’s worth recalling perhaps the most unusual episodes of its career. Between 1956 and 1989, a handful of these propeller-driven trainers kept watch on Warsaw Pact forces in the divided and heavily fortified city of Berlin — a front line of the Cold War.

The Tiny Chipmunk Trainer Was The Cold War’s Most Unlikely Spyplane

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 24, 2026

The Pentagon says it is working to amend its proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget to request new funding for the E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft.

Pentagon’s Mindset On E-7 Radar Aircraft It Tried To Axe Has Completely Changed: Hegseth

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 12, 2026

A Pilatus PC-12 from the 318th Special Operations Squadron practices touch-and-go maneuvers at Truth or Consequences, N.M., January 24, 2019. The 318th Squadron primarily flies with the U-28A aircraft, however they use the PC-12 as a practice aircraft. (U.S. photo by Airman 1st Class Vernon R. Walter III)

U.S. Air Force Special Operations Aircraft Accused Of Austrian Airspace Incursion

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 12, 2026

A U.S. Air Force E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node aircraft assigned to the 430th Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron sits parked after participating in an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) integration exercise at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, March 24, 2021. Globally integrated ISR capabilities ensure U.S. and partner forces carry out mission requirements with great situational awareness of the battlespace.

Air Force Wants To Axe Its E-11A BACN Communications Jets

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 30, 2026

Army officials have shared new details about plans to launch extremely long-range drones from the service's forthcoming ME-11B High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) surveillance and reconnaissance planes.

Air-Launched Drones Key To Keeping New Army Surveillance Jets Out Of Harms Way

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 18, 2026

A front view of an SR-71 aircraft assigned to Detachment 4, 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, as it prepares for takeoff.

SR-71 Blackbird Crews Had These Custom Smith & Wesson Pistols Built For Them

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 3, 2026

A photographer on a flight over Greenville, Texas, captured an especially good look at one of the U.S. Air Force's RC-135V/W Rivet Joint aircraft with its usual paint scheme completely stripped off.

RC-135 Rivet Joint Surveillance Jet Caught ‘In The Nude’ In Texas

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 2, 2026

E-3 sentry seen destroyed after Iranian attack in Saudi Arabia.

Images Show E-3 Sentry Totally Destroyed From Iranian Strike (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Mar 29, 2026

The move is a somewhat rare one for the E-2 community, but it's extremely logical, and likely highly urgent, considering what is going on in the Middle East.

Navy E-2D Hawkeyes Appear To Be Rushing To The Middle East

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Mar 17, 2026

An Australian E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control plane is headed for the Persian Gulf.

Massive Leap In Ability To Spot Iranian Drones Headed To Persian Gulf

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 10, 2026

In the past two days, the U.S. Air Force has sent six of its 16 E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) radar planes to bases in Europe.

Major Deployment Of Rickety E-3 Sentry Fleet For Iran Crisis Highlights Worrisome Gaps

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Feb 18, 2026

A U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry, airborne warning and control system (AWACS).

Final Pieces Moving Into Place For Potential Attack On Iran

By Howard Altman

Updated on Feb 17, 2026

The Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black and an Air Force spy plane joined a growing for in the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran.

Destroyer, Electronic Surveillance Jet Joins U.S. Forces Massing In Middle East

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jan 28, 2026

A new draft defense spending bill making its way through Congress seeks to boost funding for the U.S. Air Force's E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft to $1.1 billion for the current fiscal year.

E-7 Wedgetail Radar Jet The Pentagon Tried To Cancel Gets Over $1B In New Defense Bill

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 21, 2026

Congress has taken a new step toward blocking the Pentagon from axing the acquisition of new E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft.

E-7 Wedgetail Radar Jet Program Cancellation Reversal Advances In Congress

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 9, 2025