The Story of the U-2 Spy Plane

Photo Source; https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/19462/lockheed-is-proposing-a-major-triple-intelligence-upgrade-for-the-u-2-spy-plane

Photo Source; https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/19462/lockheed-is-proposing-a-major-triple-intelligence-upgrade-for-the-u-2-spy-plane

By: Sasiwimon Kornprasertvit, Journalist

The Lockheed U-2, also known as “The Dragon Lady,” has been in service for more than 60 years. The plane was introduced in 1957, used by the U.S. Air Force and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The camera was in the belly of the aircraft in the first place, but then they replaced it with a giant radar on the nose that can take images over 300 miles, high quality, and easy to gather information. It can go all the way up to 70,000 feet and at that high altitude, no radar can track the plane, nor get shot down by missiles. Only a few aircraft have served over 60 years, B-52, C-130, KC-135, T-38, and U-2. The last plane series was built in 1989 and the release date for the new version hasn’t been updated since the last one came out.

Related stories:

https://www.boldmethod.com/blog/lists/2015/01/17-facts-lockheed-u-2-dragon-lady/

https://www.businessinsider.com/u2-dragon-lady-flying-over-60-years-but-plane-changed-2019-6

https://www.britannica.com/technology/U-2