Manned ISR (Page 2)

Posted on Mar 14, 2025

New imagery shows the progress made on North Korea’s shadowy airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, based on an Ilyushin Il-76 Candid airlifter, and which you can read more about in our analysis of when it first broke cover. Since the start of this year the aircraft now had its rotodome fitted, putting paid to any suggestion that it’s intended for a role other than AEW&C.

Our Best Look At North Korea’s New Early-Warning Radar Plane

Updated on Mar 14, 2025

The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is reportedly flying unarmed MQ-9 Reapers inside Mexican airspace to snoop on drug cartels.

CIA MQ-9 Reapers Are Covertly Spying On Mexican Drug Cartels: Reports

Updated on Feb 18, 2025

Three nozzle binding mishaps on KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling tankers have cost the AIr Force nearly $23 million

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Tankers Flood Airspace Off The California Coast For China-Focused Air Combat Exercise

Posted on Feb 11, 2025

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RC-135 Rivet Joint Surveillance Jet Just Flew Unprecedented Mission Off Mexico

Posted on Feb 4, 2025

U.S. Navy officials have laid out several priorities they say are key to ensuring the service's carrier air wings will be able to succeed in future conflicts, especially a high-end fight in the Pacific.

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Carrier Air Wing’s Key Priorities To Win In Future Pacific Fight Laid Out By Navy

Posted on Jan 30, 2025

Army Wants To Test Air-Launched Drones From A Global Express Business Jet

Posted on Jan 9, 2025

A U2 Dragon Lady Pilot is integrated into his spacesuit for a flight to the Edge of Space. This photoshoot was done by Blair Bunting, a commercial photographer from Phoenix, AZ.

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Dressing For Success At 70,000-Feet Aboard The U-2 Dragon Lady

Posted on Dec 11, 2024

The U.S. Army has received the first of its new High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) aircraft, based on the Bombardier Global 6500 bizjet. Set to supersede a varied fleet of turboprop intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, HADES will fly higher, faster, and farther, and for longer periods, while carrying a bigger sensor payload.

Army Gets Its First HADES Airborne Reconnaissance Jet

Posted on Nov 25, 2024

Another long-serving U.S. military aircraft has completed its final operational deployment, with the return of the U.S. Navy’s EP-3E Aries II surveillance platform from the 5th Fleet area of operations. The countdown to the spy plane’s final retirement is now on, which will see its vital intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) mission handed over fully to the MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance drone.

EP-3E Aries II Spy Plane Has Flown Its Last Operational Mission

Posted on Nov 7, 2024

The security alert at Geilenkirchen Air Base in Germany last week, which you can read more about here, was due to fears of a possible Russian drone attack, according to multiple German media reports. The latest development comes amid growing fears of Russian-inspired aggression against Germany, including drones, but also various other ‘hybrid warfare’ tactics. As the main operating base for NATO’s fleet of E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), the base plays a critical role for the alliance — including around Ukraine.

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Fears Of Russian-Inspired Drone Attack Led To German Air Base Alert: Reports

Posted on Aug 26, 2024

The U.S. Army has chosen the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) to lead the conversion of Bombardier Global 6500 business jets into new High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) aircraft.

Army’s HADES Surveillance Bizjet Program Moves Forward With Sierra Nevada Corp. Deal

Posted on Aug 23, 2024

A brief video clip of a U.S. Navy E-2D Advanced Hawkeye linking up with an Air Force HC-130J tanker somewhere over in the Middle East calls attention to how this aircraft has become even more of a force multiplier with the added ability to refuel in flight.

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E-2D Refueling From HC-130 Over Middle East Highlights The Hawkeye’s Potential

Posted on Aug 7, 2024

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.

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Air Force Chief Hints At Existence Of Clandestine Spy Aircraft

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jul 26, 2024

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

Posted on Jun 10, 2024

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

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U-2 Retirement Reprieve Emerges In Proposed Defense Spending Bill

Posted on Jun 4, 2024

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

Posted on May 22, 2024

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

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

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Mar 25, 2024

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

Posted on Mar 1, 2024

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

Posted on Feb 23, 2024

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)

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jan 15, 2024

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

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

Posted on Jan 7, 2024

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

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

Posted on Nov 15, 2023

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

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U-2 Retirement Moves Forward With Defense Secretary Decision

Posted on Nov 7, 2023

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E-8 JSTARS Has Flown Its Last Operational Mission

Posted on Sep 26, 2023

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

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Sep 6, 2023

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

Posted on Jul 26, 2023

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

Posted on Jul 17, 2023

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

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

Posted on Jul 13, 2023

A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft will be heading to Germany to support the flow of aid to Ukraine.

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Australian E-7 Radar Jet Will Watch Over Ukraine Aid Shipments

By Oliver Parken, Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jul 11, 2023

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RC-135 Surveillance Jet Flies Unprecedented Mission Over Moldova

Posted on Jun 1, 2023

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Chinese J-16 Seen ‘Head Butting’ U.S. RC-135 In Cockpit Video

Posted on May 30, 2023

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Malfunctioning Russian Missile May Have Saved RC-135 Spy Plane

Posted on Apr 13, 2023

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CMV-22 Ospreys Could Fill In For Navy E-2 Hawkeyes As Communications Nodes

Posted on Apr 6, 2023

Tinker Air Force Base E-3 Sentry aircraft perform an elephant walk

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E-3 Sentry Jets Elephant Walk During Dangerous Weather Escape Drill

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Mar 23, 2023

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U.S. RC-135 Surveillance Jet Has Flown Unprecedented Mission Over Finland (Updated)

Posted on Mar 23, 2023

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This Is What USAF’s Future E-7 Radar Jet Is Actually Capable Of

By Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 20, 2023

U-2

U-2 Dragon Lady Spy Planes Are Facing The Axe Again: Report

Updated on Mar 16, 2023

Ukraine Situation Report: Belarus Admits Russian A-50 Radar Jet Damaged In Drone Attack

Posted on Mar 7, 2023

Video Shows Drone Landing On Russian A-50 Radar Jet That Was Supposedly Attacked (Updated)

Updated on Mar 3, 2023

Video Of Another Drone Landing On Russian A-50 Radar Jet In Belarus Emerges

Posted on Mar 3, 2023

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Air Force Orders First E-7 Jets To Replace Aging E-3 Sentry

Posted on Mar 1, 2023

Russian A-50 Radar Jet Intact After Claimed Drone Attack In Belarus

Updated on Feb 28, 2023

Claims Swirl Around Supposed Strike On Russian A-50 Radar Jet In Belarus (Updated)

Posted on Feb 27, 2023

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Our Best Look Yet At The Chinese Spy Balloon’s Massive Payload

Posted on Feb 22, 2023

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U-2 Pilot’s Selfie Flying Alongside Chinese Spy Balloon Leaks (Updated)

Updated on Feb 21, 2023

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U-2 Spy Planes Snooped On Chinese Surveillance Balloon

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Feb 6, 2023

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Newest Air Force E-11A BACN Networking Jet Deploys To Saudi Arabia

Posted on Dec 20, 2022

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Air Force’s Prized BACN Networking Jets Now Operating Over The Mediterranean

By Amelia Smith, The War Zone staff

Posted on Oct 31, 2022

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Russian Su-27 Released Missile During Intercept Of British RC-135 Spy Plane

Posted on Oct 20, 2022

RAF E-3 sentry being converted into Navy E-6 mercury

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Navy Turning British Surplus E-3 Sentry Into E-6B Doomsday Plane Trainer

Posted on Oct 5, 2022

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Geriatric E-3 Sentry Has Caused Dire Airborne Early Warning Gap: General

By Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 29, 2022

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Keeping The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye On Top Into the 2040s

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 5, 2022

A depiction of an F-35A Joint Strike Fighter flying together with various different drone designs as part of a distributed manned-unmanned team.

Vision For Future Manned-Unmanned Air Combat Laid Out By Skunk Works

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jul 12, 2022

Optical Bar Camera film retirement U2 Beale

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The U-2 Dragon Lady Finally Says Goodbye To Film Cameras At Beale AFB

By Emma Helfrich, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jul 1, 2022

Air Force’s First ‘New’ Constant Phoenix Nuke-Sniffing Jet Has Flown

By Emma Helfrich

Posted on Jun 30, 2022

Swedish Air Force Pays Tribute To Spy Plane Crew Shot Down By Russia 70 Years Ago

Posted on Jun 14, 2022

A picture of a unique and highly-modified Boeing 727 that Raytheon uses as testbed, with an inset showing online flight tracking data regarding an unusual flight the aircraft performed around the islands of Saipan and Tinian in the western Pacific in June 2022.

Radar-Toting 727 Testbed “Voodoo 1” Appears Over Saipan

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jun 9, 2022

RC-135

U.S. RC-135U Spy Plane Just Surveilled China’s Strategic Southern Coast

Posted on Jun 6, 2022

Australia’s New MC-55 Peregrine Electronic Warfare Jet Breaks Cover (Updated)

By Dan Parsons, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on May 11, 2022

A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft.

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Air Force To Buy E-7 Wedgetail Radar Jets To Replace Aging E-3s

Posted on Apr 27, 2022

SR-71

SR-71 Blackbird’s Predecessor Looked Even Cooler With Canards

Posted on Apr 22, 2022

RC-135

RC-135 Jets Flew Unprecedented Mission To Spy On Russia’s New ICBM