U-2 Spy Plane Takes on a New Surveillance Mission

The U.S. Air Force is investing more than $50 million to keep one of its oldest types of airplanes flying indefinitely. Despite its age, the U-2 remains an immensely capable reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft. Its combination of high-altitude flight capability and range still exceed those of most modern tactical and command-and-control aircraft, making it a more effective intelligence gatherer and data “node”—a high-capacity channel for passing along the information its sensors collect. (www.scientificamerican.com) 更多...