MILNET Brief   U-2 High Altitude Strategic Reconnaissance Aircraft

Specifications (non governmental sources):

• Derivations: U-2, U-2R, TR-1 (All to be re-designated to U2-S, with one trainer as U2-ST)
• Wing span:
80 feet; 103 feet; 103 feet
• Length:
49.54 feet; 63 feet; 63 feet
• Empty Weight:
11,700 lbs; 14,900 lbs; 16,000 lbs
• Maximum Speed:
528 mph; 510 mph; 495 mph
• Ceiling:
85,000 feet; 90,000 feet; 90,000 feet
• Range:
3,000 miles; 3,500 miles; 4,000 miles
• Endurance:
on int. fuel - 6.5 hours; 7.5 hours; 12 hours
• Engine@Thrust:
J57-P-13@11.2Klbs; J57-P-13B@17Klb or one General Electric F-118-101@17,000lbs
• Manufacturer:
Lockheed

The U-2 was first approved early in 1953 by the CIA under a code-named project Aquatone. Designated the CL-282, and then later the U-2 by Lockheed, the aircraft was designed as a high altitude photographic reconnaissance aircraft. Later sophisticated electronic and infrared sensors were added. The follow on program was named Oxcart and embodied the incredible A-12/SR-71. The CIA history of the U-2 program is available online.

The first U-2 to fly was designated N308X by the FAA, but carried only the number 101 on the tail. Piloted by Tony Lavier, the flight was intended only to be a taxi test, but the U-2 took to the air at 70 mph on August 1, 1955. Operational flights began as early as 1956.

On May Day, 1960, Francis Gary Powers was shot down in his U.S. over the Soviet Union and put on public trial.

During the Cuban missile crisis, another U-2 was shot down over Cuba, but not before previous missions photographed the installation of Soviet ICBMs.

On August 28, 1967, the first U-2R was flown. The U-2R had improved airframe that could withstand the full output of the J75-P-13B 17,000 lb thrust powerplant, and has an increased wingspan from 80 feet on the original U-2s, to 103 feet on the U-2R. U-2R carries 3,000 gallons of fuel over the older U-2s capacity of only 1,320. Wing tanks can be carried on both aircraft. The fuselage is more streamlined, and the wings can be manually folded to fit into narrow hangers. Also installed are an advanced set of defensive counter-measures. The U-2R also features a removable front nose piece so that other sensors suites could be interchanged quickly. Finally the U-2R added space to the cockpit so that more comfortable and safe Dave Clark pressure suits could be worn.

From 1968 through 1974 U-2Rs flew over Communist China while operating from a base in Taiwan and overflew North Vietnam flying from Bien Hoa, Vietnam. U-2Rs then flew from a base in Thailand until withdrawn in 1976 .

In November of 1969, test pilot Bill Park flew a U-2R off a catapult launching off the U.S.S. America aircraft carrier and then easily landed using a specially installed tail hook.

In 1976, the USAF moved the U-2 and SR-71s in the U.S to Beale AFB, CA, thus consolidating their Strategic Reconnaissance aircraft in one place.

On November 16, 1979, Lockheed announced the production award for the TR-1. The TR-1s are built on the same design of and uses the same toolings as the U-2Rs. Most TR-1s have "super pods" attached to each wing to hold more recon gear. Added to the TR1s is the Hughes Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar allowing a "look" of over fifty miles from the edge of the target countries border.

In early 1983, the first TR-1A arrived at RAF Alconbury forming the 17th Recon Wing, providing TR-1 services to NATO.

All U-2 aircraft are being converted to a new U-2S configuration with the single training aircraft being converted to U-2ST. The aircraft is being upgraded with a lighter engine (General Electric F-118-101) that burns less fuel, cuts weight and increases power. The entire fleet should be re-engined by 1998. Other upgrades are to the sensors and adding the Global Positioning System that will superimpose geo-coordinates directly on collected images.