The National Interest on MSN

The US Air Force is finally retiring the U-2 spy plane. Here’s why.

The U-2 costs more and more to fly, is extremely demanding of its pilots, and is no longer essential for intelligence ...
The Aviationist

Skunk Works Is Looking for a U-2 Pilot

Despite being one of the oldest aircraft still flying in U.S. service, the U-2 remains relevant enough for Skunk Works to seek a qualified pilot in Palmdale. Skunk Works, the legendary Lockheed Martin ...
New Atlas

Electronic warfare upgrade gives Cold War U-2 a new lease on life

The legendary Cold War-era Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady spyplane is getting a new lease on life as BAE Systems gives it an upgraded version of the AN/ALQ-221 Advanced Defensive System (ADS) to protect the ...
The National Interest

Why the U-2 Dragon Lady Spy Plane Is an Astonishing Feat of Engineering

The U-2’s ability to reach 70,000 feet—an altitude that most modern fighter jets cannot match—came about after a series of remarkable design innovations. The Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady routinely ...
The Aviationist

U.S. Air Force to Update U-2 Dragon Lady Defensive System

The iconic 70-year-old spy plane is receiving updates to its AN/ALQ-221 Advanced Defensive System. Despite ever changing plans to retire the type in the next few years, the U.S. Air Force’s U-2 Dragon ...
SlashGear

What Makes The Lockheed U-2 One Of The Most Difficult Spy Planes To Fly

For most people today, the "Dragon Lady" more than likely conjures up images of Daenerys Targaryen from the hit HBO fantasy series, "Game of Thrones." But long before that show ever aired, and even ...