MILNET: Reconnaissance Aircraft

Reconnaissance Aircraft comprise a multitude of differing platforms and missions. For reconnaissance has grown from the simple film based overflights with ballons of World War I, to the exotic aircraft such as the SR-71 which flies above 80,000 feet and at speeds greater than Mach 3.

The following is a list of U.S. Recon Aircraft which are in service today. The SR-71 listing is included for completeness despite the fact this incredible aircraft was retired in 1990 after 30 years of nearly flawless and as of yet unmatched aeronautical performance. For further information on U.S. Aircraft, see also U.S. Aircraft .

Designation Manufacturer Agency  Description/Mission


U2/TR-1  Lockheed USAF/CIA High alt. Strategic Recon aircraft,
film, ELINT,

      COMINT, etc.

SR-71   Lockheed USAF  High Speed, High Altitude Recon (Retired)

E-3B/C  Boeing/Westing. USAF  Airborne Warning And Control
System (AWACS)

      providing airborne C3I capabilities and tactical

      tracking and intercept control.

EP-3E Lockheed  -      Aires II, High loiter time electronic surveillance
based on the 
P-3C Orien
 airframe, and includes a number of blisters 
containing ELINT equipment.  Patrols just outside target country 
airspace and intercepts telemetery from rocket launches, communications
and other data or electronic information which might include positions
and types of radar or radio transmitters.

E-4B  Boeing/Rockwell USAF  National Emergency Airborne Command
Post

      (NEACP).

RF-4C  McDonnel Douglas USAF  Day-Night all weather tactical
recon, RADINT

      COMINT, ELINT, etc.

E-8A  Boeing/Grumman USAF/USA/USN Joint Surveillance and Target
Attack Radar System

      (JSTARS), look down capability onto the battlefield


      combined with data links to artillery and other assets

      which can then attack opponents as they move 

      about the battlefield.

EC-18B/D Boeing  USAF  Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft
(ARIA)

      range instrumentation for NASA and military 

      missiles launches, and a new mission under

      development, monitoring and controlling UAVs.

EF-111A  General Dynamics USAF  Defense Suppression (Anti-Radiation,
Jamming,

      etc.)

F-117A   Lockheed USAF  Stealth Fighter (Stealthy Recon Capable)

EC-130  Lockheed USAF  Airborne Command and Control Center

EC-135  Boeing/Rockwell USAF  Airborne Command Post (Looking
Glass), Airborne

      Launch Control System (ALCS),  Post Attack 

      Command and Control System (PACCS).

RC-135   Boeing/Rockwell USAF  Strategic Air Command, Recon
and special EW