Manned ISR

Latest in Manned ISR

The U.S. Air Force is planning to retire its remaining RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude, long-endurance drones by the end of the 2027 Fiscal Year. The service says it has become clear that the RQ-4s would be overly vulnerable in any future conflict against a peer or near-peer adversary, but it’s not clear what aircraft (or other assets) might fill the resulting capability gap. This only adds to the growing evidence that a top-secret, high-flying, stealth spy drone, commonly referred to as the RQ-180, or variants or derivatives thereof, is getting close to entering service, if it isn’t already being employed operationally on some level.

Air Force Chief Hints At Existence Of Clandestine Spy Aircraft Air Force Chief Hints At Existence Of Clandestine Spy Aircraft

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Jul 26 5:51 PM EDT

U.S. Army Officer Confirms Russian A-50 Radar Jet Was Shot Down With Patriot Missile

U.S. Army Officer Confirms Russian A-50 Radar Jet Was Shot Down With Patriot Missile U.S. Army Officer Confirms Russian A-50 Radar Jet Was Shot Down With Patriot Missile

By Thomas Newdick

Jun 10 6:55 PM EDT

Congress is moving to block the Air Force from retiring or preparing to retire any U-2 spy planes in the next fiscal year.

U-2 Retirement Reprieve Emerges In Proposed Defense Spending Bill U-2 Retirement Reprieve Emerges In Proposed Defense Spending Bill

By Joseph Trevithick

Jun 4 4:27 PM EDT

U-2's new radar is going to the Army's HADES surveillance jet.

Radar Developed For U-2 To Go On Army Intel-Gathering BizJets Radar Developed For U-2 To Go On Army Intel-Gathering BizJets

By Joseph Trevithick

May 22 12:35 PM EDT

U.S. Air Force TU-2s Dragon Lady 1078 flies to U.S. Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, California, where it will undergo normal Program Depot-level Maintenance (PDM) and be painted black, after almost three years of maintenance at Beale Air Force Base, California, Feb. 29, 2024. Aircraft 1078 was involved in an accident in 2021 that left it unable to move to Plant 42, and after passing low flight and high flight tests, was able to fly to Palmdale where Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Detachment 4 will oversee Lockheed Martin’s PDM of aircraft 1078. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alexis Pentzer

TU-2S Dragon Lady Resurrected For The Twilight Of The Spy Plane’s Service TU-2S Dragon Lady Resurrected For The Twilight Of The Spy Plane’s Service

By Oliver Parken

Mar 25 7:27 PM EDT

Russia Building More Dated A-50 Radar Planes Is Desperate But May Be Necessary Russia Building More Dated A-50 Radar Planes Is Desperate But May Be Necessary

By Thomas Newdick

Mar 1 4:41 PM EST

The Beriev A-50U 'Mainstay' airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft belonging to Russian Air Force in the air. 'U' designation stands for extended range and advanced digital radio systems. This aircraft was named after Sergey Atayants - Beriev's chief designer.

Another One Of Russia’s Prized A-50 Radar Planes Shot Down, Ukraine Claims Another One Of Russia’s Prized A-50 Radar Planes Shot Down, Ukraine Claims

By Thomas Newdick

Feb 23 3:29 PM EST

Ukraine claims its air defense shot down an A-50 Mainstay airborne early warning and control jet.

Claims Swirl Around Possible Shoot Down Of Russian A-50 Radar Jet (Updated) Claims Swirl Around Possible Shoot Down Of Russian A-50 Radar Jet (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Jan 15 12:10 AM EST

Beale AFB executes an elephant walk as the U-2's service approaches its end.

U-2 Dragon Lady Spy Planes Execute A Bittersweet Elephant Walk U-2 Dragon Lady Spy Planes Execute A Bittersweet Elephant Walk

By Tyler Rogoway

Jan 7 4:46 PM EST

Concept artwork of the NATO E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft in flight.

E-7 Wedgetail Radar Jet Chosen By NATO To Replace Aging E-3 E-7 Wedgetail Radar Jet Chosen By NATO To Replace Aging E-3

By Thomas Newdick

Nov 15 1:08 PM EST

U-2 retirement moves forward with secretary of defense waiver sent to congress.

U-2 Retirement Moves Forward With Defense Secretary Decision U-2 Retirement Moves Forward With Defense Secretary Decision

By Joseph Trevithick

Nov 6 9:23 PM EST

JSTARS E-8 retirement

E-8 JSTARS Has Flown Its Last Operational Mission E-8 JSTARS Has Flown Its Last Operational Mission

By Thomas Newdick

Sep 26 3:38 PM EDT

The U-2 Dragon Lady As You Have Never Seen It Before The U-2 Dragon Lady As You Have Never Seen It Before

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Sep 6 1:51 PM EDT

The US Air Force has stood up a new detachment at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to meeting growing demand for RC-135V/W Rivet Joint sorties.

RC-135 Rivet Joint Spy Flights From Alaska To Grow Thanks To New Unit RC-135 Rivet Joint Spy Flights From Alaska To Grow Thanks To New Unit

By Joseph Trevithick

Jul 26 7:54 PM EDT

RAF E-7 Wedgetail

UK’s E-7 Radar Jet Deal Slammed As “Absolute Folly” In New Report UK’s E-7 Radar Jet Deal Slammed As “Absolute Folly” In New Report

By Thomas Newdick

Jul 17 1:37 PM EDT

US Air Force aircraft have been refueled by private tanker planes for the first time ever.

Private Aerial Refueling Tanker Has Gassed Up An Air Force Plane For The First Time Private Aerial Refueling Tanker Has Gassed Up An Air Force Plane For The First Time

By Joseph Trevithick

Jul 12 9:43 PM EDT