--- title: "U-2 Dragon Lady Spy Planes Execute A Bittersweet Elephant Walk" description: "Beale Air Force Base's 9th Reconnaissance Wing and 940th Air Refueling Wing just executed an ['elephant walk]()' — a [readiness exercise]() that also [showcases the airframes]() a base supports. Seeing the [U-2 Dragon Ladies]() and the [gloss black T-38A]() trainers…" date: "2024-01-07" modified: "2024-01-07" authors: - name: "Tyler Rogoway" job_title: "Editor-in-Chief" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway" url: "https://www.twz.com/u-2-dragon-ladies-execute-bittersweet-elephant-walk-as-they-head-toward-retirement" categories: - "Air" - "Air Forces" - "KC-135" - "Manned ISR" - "T-38" - "Tankers" - "Trainers" - "U-2" - "U.S. Air Force" --- # U-2 Dragon Lady Spy Planes Execute A Bittersweet Elephant Walk ![Beale AFB executes an elephant walk as the U-2's service approaches its end.]() *(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Juliana Londono)* Beale Air Force Base's 9th Reconnaissance Wing and 940th Air Refueling Wing just executed an ['elephant walk]()' — a [readiness exercise]() that also [showcases the airframes]() a base supports. Seeing the [U-2 Dragon Ladies]() and the [gloss black T-38A]() trainers (used to build U-2 pilot time and proficiency) lined up on Beale's runway, along with resident [KC-135Rs]() and [the chase cars]() that [help the U-2 land](), is truly a sight to behold, and one that is somewhat bittersweet. Located in central Northern California, Beale's most well-known and long-term resident, the U-2, is in its final years of service. [As it sits now,]() U-2 divestment would begin in late 2025 and wrap up by 2027, marking the end of an absolutely incredible career that has lasted far [longer than anyone would have thought]() when the Dragon Lady first took to the skies over Groom Lake in 1955. This means that the U-2 would exit USAF operations after more than 70 years of flying. NASA would likely still fly the U-2 in [its ER-2 configuration]() in very small numbers. ![]() *U.S. Air Force U-2 Dragon Ladies and chase cars from the 99th Reconnaissance Squadron, T-38 Talons from the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, and KC-135R Stratotankers from the 940th Air Refueling Wing conduct an elephant walk on Beale Air Force Base, California, Jan. 4, 2023. The elephant walk showcased a display of joint airpower between the wings hosted at Beale. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Juliana Londono)* The U-2 has been under threat of retirement since not [too long after it entered service]() the better part of a century ago, and especially in recent decades, without those plans coming to fruition. Even the RQ-4 Global Hawk drone failed to replace the U-2 as planned. In fact, this elephant walk would have had Global Hawks on the runway just a year and a half ago, with the [type being pulled from Beale]() in mid-2022 as its service [also gets wound down.]() But this time seems different, with the [USAF making massive]() ([and risky]()) changes to its force structure now in order to be able to better fight in a highly contested battlespace sometime in the future. In November of 2023, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin moved forward with the U-2 retirement process, which you can read more about [here](). As for what comes next to replace the U-2, and the RQ-4 to an extent, the [high-flying stealthy 'RQ-180]()' appears to be waiting in the shadows, along with a whole new array of space-based capabilities. Distributing reconnaissance to multiple smaller flying nodes that are networked together and can operate further forward is [also clearly a work in progress](). But still, even with these advances geared to being able to persistently glean intelligence in very hostile areas, what will be lost with the U-2 cannot be understated. ![]() *U.S. Air Force T-38 Talons from the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, U-2 Dragon Ladies and chase cars from the 99th Reconnaissance Squadron, and KC-135R Stratotankers from the 940th Air Refueling Wing conduct an elephant walk on Beale Air Force Base, California, Jan. 4, 2023. The elephant walk showcased a display of joint airpower between the 9th Reconnaissance Wing and 940th hosted at Beale. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Frederick A. Brown)* The aircraft provides an *incredibly* *flexible*, multi-role capability that, in a multitude of ways, an unmanned asset cannot rival. While the U-2's missions have to occur in more permissive airspace, near the edge of the enemy's counter-air reach during a time of conflict, for everything else, especially during peacetime, the U-2 is the ultimate high-flying strategic intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) 'truck.' While it isn't cheap to operate and pilots are definitely not inexpensive to train and keep current — hence the T-38 companion trainers — we can't count the U-2 out fully, even after it has disappeared initially. The USAF may find it is a capability it cannot live without. Ideally, the U-2 would stay in the inventory alongside an advanced penetrating strategic reconnaissance drone (RQ-180). They would complement each other incredibly well. But doing so would require the USAF to pull out its pocketbook to a degree it does not seem willing to do, at least a this time. So, [enjoy images like this]() while you can as the Dragon Lady is now quickly approaching its last dance. *Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com* ## Author Tyler’s passion is the study of military technology, strategy, as well as foreign policy, and he has fostered a dominant voice on those topics in the defense and national security space. Tyler was the creator of the hugely popular defense site *Foxtrot Alpha* before developing *TWZ*, which he continues to lead as the Editor-In-Chief to this day. ### Author social links [Twitter]()