U-2 Dragon Lady Integrates into the Combat Environment of the Future

US Lockheed Martin Avionics Tech company signed a contract with the U.S. Air Force regarding the modernization of U-2 Dragon Lady aircraft.

Lockheed Martin, the number one supplier of the U.S. Department of Defense Pentagon, won a modernization contract to integrate the U-2 "Dragon Lady" reconnaissance aircraft in the US Air Force (USAF) inventory into the future combat environment.

Within the scope of the modernization contract with a total value of 50 million dollars, the following modernizations will be made to U-2s:

• A new mission computer designed according to the U.S. Air Force's open mission systems (OMS) standard, allowing U-2 to integrate with systems of different security levels in the air, space, naval, land and cyber space.
• A modern cockpit that will facilitate the transfer of the data collected by the aircraft, while making it easier for the pilot to perform his duties.

Within the scope of the contract, it is planned to start fleet modernization at the beginning of 2022.

Lockheed Martin U-2 Dragon Lady

The U-2 "Dragon Lady" is a single-seat and single-engine high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. U-2, which has a glider-like body structure; It can perform signal intelligence (SIGINT), image intelligence (IMINT), electronic intelligence (ELINT) and measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT).

The pilots of U-70.000 planes, which can climb above 2ft altitude during the mission, wear flight clothing similar to those worn by astronauts due to pressure.