Featured in spy planesBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareThe SR-71 Blackbird’s Predecessor Created “Plasma Stealth” By Burning Cesium-Laced FuelSkunk Works needed a way to hide the A-12’s radar reflecting behind, so they dumped cesium into its fuel to create a radar-absorbing exhaust plume. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayAug 26, 2019ShareWait, The USAF Is Spending Hundreds Of Thousands Airlifting Two Dodge Chargers To The UK?The Air Force says it might just source chase cars there if it can’t cut through various red tape to fly them. Why isn’t it doing that already? BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayAug 26, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareLockheed Is Proposing a Major ‘Triple Intelligence’ Upgrade for the U-2 Spy PlaneA new configuration with three types of sensor systems could make the planes even more versatile and keep them relevant for years to come. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareWe Now Know Exactly What Sensors the Army’s Powerful New RO-6A Spy Planes Will CarryA recent contracting notice includes a detailed breakdown of the various cameras, radars, and signals intelligence gear that will go into the planes. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareAward Reveals USAF Rivet Joint Spied on Iranian Forces During 2016 Hostage CrisisInformation from the Rivet Joint aircraft aided negotiations and helped avoid a more serious confrontation. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareThe Army’s Latest Spy Planes Are Flying Hundreds of Hours OverseasThree of four MC-12S variants are gathering intelligence in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Central Asia. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareYet Another Version of the U.S. Army’s New Spy Plane Appears in ArizonaThis Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System model has a powerful radar pod underneath its fuselage. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareThe U.S. Army’s Newest Spy Plane Is in Action in Africa and Latin AmericaAfter almost getting canned in 2012, the Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System is now snooping abroad. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 20, 2019ShareThe Air Force’s Special Operations PC-12s Finally Have An Official NicknameThe U-28As have already been in service for 13 years and have flown hundreds of thousands of flight hours in combat zones around the world. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 20, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 14, 2019ShareThese Secretive US SpecOps Spy Planes Are Getting New Sensors And Anti-GPS Jamming GearContracting documents offer new details about a fleet of secretive intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft and their operations. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 14, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickApr 16, 2019ShareOne of Saudi Arabia’s RE-3A Spy Planes Now Looks Just Like a U.S. Air Force RC-135The unique signals intelligence aircraft now has an elongated nose and other features that appear almost identical to the American Rivet Joint. BYJoseph TrevithickApr 16, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickFeb 15, 2019ShareThat USAF RC-135 Rivet Joint Caribbean Spy Flight Was Far More Common Than Most ThinkThe sortie might have been related to the crisis in Venezuela, but the big intelligence gathering platforms fly many other missions in the region. BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 15, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickOct 17, 2018ShareUSAF Frantically Stole Parts From One RC-135 To Get Another Airborne To Spy On A Missile LaunchThe swap meant the missile monitoring mission went ahead as planned, but it forced the service to delay another intelligence-gathering sortie. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 17, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJul 27, 2018ShareUSAF Plans To Test A System Called ‘Symphony’ Inside An ‘Irascible Pod’ On A U-2 Spy PlaneThe Air Force is still exploring expanding the aircraft’s capabilities and mission sets even after more than 60 years of service. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 27, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMay 5, 2018ShareNorthrop Grumman’s ‘H03’ Firebird Spy Plane Is Now Flying At Mojave Air and Space PortNew photos give us a much more complete view of the aircraft, clearly showing its lineage to Scaled Composites’ Firebird long-endurance design. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 5, 2018ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayApr 4, 2018ShareMysterious Northrop Grumman Spy Plane Emerges At The Mojave Air and Space PortCalled the H03, the design is reminiscent of a number of other high-flying, glider-like intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayApr 4, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMar 28, 2018ShareShadowy CIA-Linked Spy Plane May Be Scouring The Sea For North Korean Sanction BustingSince February 2018, the essentially unmarked surveillance aircraft has been flying orbits over the East China Sea between North Korea and China. BYJoseph TrevithickMar 28, 2018Share12
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareThe SR-71 Blackbird’s Predecessor Created “Plasma Stealth” By Burning Cesium-Laced FuelSkunk Works needed a way to hide the A-12’s radar reflecting behind, so they dumped cesium into its fuel to create a radar-absorbing exhaust plume. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayAug 26, 2019ShareWait, The USAF Is Spending Hundreds Of Thousands Airlifting Two Dodge Chargers To The UK?The Air Force says it might just source chase cars there if it can’t cut through various red tape to fly them. Why isn’t it doing that already? BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayAug 26, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareLockheed Is Proposing a Major ‘Triple Intelligence’ Upgrade for the U-2 Spy PlaneA new configuration with three types of sensor systems could make the planes even more versatile and keep them relevant for years to come. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareWe Now Know Exactly What Sensors the Army’s Powerful New RO-6A Spy Planes Will CarryA recent contracting notice includes a detailed breakdown of the various cameras, radars, and signals intelligence gear that will go into the planes. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareAward Reveals USAF Rivet Joint Spied on Iranian Forces During 2016 Hostage CrisisInformation from the Rivet Joint aircraft aided negotiations and helped avoid a more serious confrontation. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareThe Army’s Latest Spy Planes Are Flying Hundreds of Hours OverseasThree of four MC-12S variants are gathering intelligence in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Central Asia. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareYet Another Version of the U.S. Army’s New Spy Plane Appears in ArizonaThis Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System model has a powerful radar pod underneath its fuselage. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareThe U.S. Army’s Newest Spy Plane Is in Action in Africa and Latin AmericaAfter almost getting canned in 2012, the Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System is now snooping abroad. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 20, 2019ShareThe Air Force’s Special Operations PC-12s Finally Have An Official NicknameThe U-28As have already been in service for 13 years and have flown hundreds of thousands of flight hours in combat zones around the world. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 20, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 14, 2019ShareThese Secretive US SpecOps Spy Planes Are Getting New Sensors And Anti-GPS Jamming GearContracting documents offer new details about a fleet of secretive intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft and their operations. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 14, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickApr 16, 2019ShareOne of Saudi Arabia’s RE-3A Spy Planes Now Looks Just Like a U.S. Air Force RC-135The unique signals intelligence aircraft now has an elongated nose and other features that appear almost identical to the American Rivet Joint. BYJoseph TrevithickApr 16, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 15, 2019ShareThat USAF RC-135 Rivet Joint Caribbean Spy Flight Was Far More Common Than Most ThinkThe sortie might have been related to the crisis in Venezuela, but the big intelligence gathering platforms fly many other missions in the region. BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 15, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickOct 17, 2018ShareUSAF Frantically Stole Parts From One RC-135 To Get Another Airborne To Spy On A Missile LaunchThe swap meant the missile monitoring mission went ahead as planned, but it forced the service to delay another intelligence-gathering sortie. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 17, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJul 27, 2018ShareUSAF Plans To Test A System Called ‘Symphony’ Inside An ‘Irascible Pod’ On A U-2 Spy PlaneThe Air Force is still exploring expanding the aircraft’s capabilities and mission sets even after more than 60 years of service. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 27, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMay 5, 2018ShareNorthrop Grumman’s ‘H03’ Firebird Spy Plane Is Now Flying At Mojave Air and Space PortNew photos give us a much more complete view of the aircraft, clearly showing its lineage to Scaled Composites’ Firebird long-endurance design. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 5, 2018Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayApr 4, 2018ShareMysterious Northrop Grumman Spy Plane Emerges At The Mojave Air and Space PortCalled the H03, the design is reminiscent of a number of other high-flying, glider-like intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayApr 4, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMar 28, 2018ShareShadowy CIA-Linked Spy Plane May Be Scouring The Sea For North Korean Sanction BustingSince February 2018, the essentially unmarked surveillance aircraft has been flying orbits over the East China Sea between North Korea and China. BYJoseph TrevithickMar 28, 2018Share