Editing Lockheed U-2 (section)

====21st century====
The U-2 remains in front-line service more than 60 years after its first flight, with the current U-2 beginning service in 1980. This is due primarily to its ability to change surveillance objectives on short notice, something that surveillance satellites cannot do. In the mid-1990s, it was converted from the U-2R to the U-2S, receiving the [[General Electric F118|GE F118]] turbofan engine.<ref name="lockheedmartin.com">[http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/features/2014/5-ways-u-2-goes-above-and-sees-beyond.html "Five ways the U-2 goes above and sees beyond."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820210641/https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news.html |date=20 August 2024 }} ''Lockheed Martin'', 19 February 2014. Retrieved: 13 September 2014.</ref> The U-2 outlasted its Mach 3 replacement, the [[Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird|SR-71]], which was retired in 1998. A classified budget document approved by [[the Pentagon]] on 23 December 2005 called for the U-2's termination no earlier than 2012, with some aircraft being retired by 2007.<ref>Butler, Amy and David A Fulghum. [http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,174427,00.html "USAF not ready to retire the U-2."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208145701/http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,174427,00.html |date=8 December 2012}}. ''[[Aviation Week]]'', 26 August 2008. Retrieved: 10 March 2009.</ref> In January 2006, Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]] announced the U-2's pending retirement as a cost-cutting measure during a larger reorganization and redefinition of the USAF's mission.<ref>Sherman, Jason and Daniel G Dupont. [http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,84991,00.html "DoD cuts Air Force aircraft fleet."] {{webarchive|url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20080224014956/http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,84991,00.html |date=24 February 2008}} ''Military.com'', 11 January 2006. Retrieved: 8 March 2009.</ref> Rumsfeld said that this would not impair the USAF's ability to gather intelligence, which would be done by satellites and a growing supply of unmanned [[Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk|RQ-4 Global Hawk]] reconnaissance aircraft.

[[File:USAF U-2S taxiing after landing at Al Dhafra Air Base.jpg|thumb|left|U-2S with the Senior Span/Spur communications suite at [[Al Dhafra Air Base]], [[United Arab Emirates]], ca. 2017]]
In 2009, the USAF stated that it planned to extend the U-2 retirement from 2012 until 2014 or later to allow more time to field the RQ-4.<ref>Tirpak, John A. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110524154159/http://www.airforce-magazine.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/2009/February%202009/0209course.aspx "12 Miles High, Changing Course."]}} Arlington, [[Virginia|VA]]: ''Air Force magazine'', Air Force Association, February 2009. Retrieved" 8 March 2009.</ref> Upgrades late in the War in Afghanistan gave the U-2 greater reconnaissance and threat-detection capability.<ref>Evans, Michael (Pentagon Correspondent). [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article7073232.ece "U2 eye-in-the-sky spy plane wins new lease of life in Afghanistan."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528050134/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article7073232.ece |date=28 May 2010 }} ''The Times online'', 24 March 2010. Retrieved: 7 December 2015.</ref> By early 2010, U-2s from the [[380th Air Expeditionary Wing#Units|99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron]] had flown over 200 missions in support of Operations [[Operation Iraqi Freedom|Iraqi Freedom]] and [[Operation Enduring Freedom|Enduring Freedom]], as well as [[Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa]].<ref>Sturkol, Scott. [http://www.dvidshub.net/news/48860/dragon-lady-fires-up-another-combat-mission-southwest-asia "Dragon Lady fires up for another combat mission in Southwest Asia."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806211426/http://www.dvidshub.net/news/48860/dragon-lady-fires-up-another-combat-mission-southwest-asia |date=6 August 2012 }} ''380th Air Expeditionary Wing'', 29 April 2010. Retrieved: 1 June 2010.</ref>

A U-2 was stationed in Cyprus in March 2011 to help in the enforcement of the [[2011 military intervention in Libya|no-fly zone over Libya]],<ref>Grier, Peter. [http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2011/0321/Libya-intervention-What-s-the-endgame "Libya intervention: What's the endgame?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110323115629/http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2011/0321/Libya-intervention-What-s-the-endgame |date=23 March 2011 }} ''The Christian Science Monitor'', 21 March 2011. Retrieved: 21 March 2011.</ref> and a U-2 stationed at [[Osan Air Base]] in South Korea was used to provide imagery of the [[Fukushima I nuclear accidents|Japanese nuclear reactor]] damaged by the 11 March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.<ref>Eshel, Tamir. [http://defense-update.com/20110314_japan_disaster.html "Satellite imagery, U-2 chart Japan’s earthquake, tsunami devastation."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111212032626/http://defense-update.com/20110314_japan_disaster.html |date=12 December 2011 }} ''Defense Update'', 4 March 2011. Retrieved: 12 December 2011.</ref>

[[File:U-2 new cockpit 2006-06-20 F-8409K-001.jpg|thumb|Cockpit of a U-2S Block 20, at [[Osan Air Base]], [[South Korea]], circa June 2006]]
In March 2011, it was projected that the fleet of 32 U-2s would be operated until 2015.<ref>Brook, Tom Vanden. [https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-03-28-U228_ST_N.htm "After Five Decades, The U-2 Is Still Flying High."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317122402/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-03-28-U228_ST_N.htm |date=17 March 2012 }} ''[[USA Today]]'', 28 March 2011. Retrieved: 7 December 2015.</ref> In 2014, Lockheed Martin determined that the U-2S fleet had used only one-fifth of its design service life and was one of the youngest fleets within the USAF.<ref name="lockheedmartin.com"/> In 2011 the USAF intended to replace the U-2 with the RQ-4 before fiscal year 2015; proposed legislation required any replacement to have lower operating costs.<ref name="Retirement b4 FY 15">Majumdar, Dave. [http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2011/08/dn-global-hawk-to-replace-u2-spy-plane-081011/ "Global Hawk to replace U-2 spy plane in 2015."] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130116125100/http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2011/08/dn-global-hawk-to-replace-u2-spy-plane-081011/ |date=16 January 2013 }} ''Air Force Times,'' 10 August 2011. Retrieved: 22 August 2011.</ref> In January 2012 the USAF reportedly planned to end the RQ-4 Block 30 program and extend the U-2's service life until 2023.<ref>Shalal-Esa, Andrea. "U.S. Air Force to Kill Global Hawk UAV." ''Aviation Week,'' 24 January 2012. Retrieved: 24 January 2012.</ref><ref>Majumdar, Dave. [https://archive.today/20120903152033/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120125/DEFREG02/301250010/Sources-USAF-Kill-Block-30-Global-Hawks?odyssey=tab |topnews|text|FRONTPAGE "Sources: USAF to kill block 30 Global Hawks."] ''Defense News'' 25 January 2012. Retrieved: 25 January 2012.</ref> The RQ-4 Block 30 was kept in service under political pressure despite USAF objections, stating that the U-2 cost $2,380 per flight hour compared to the RQ-4's $6,710 as of early 2014.<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysts-predict-a-10-u-2-retirements-in-fy15-395693/ "Analysts predict A-10, U-2 retirements in FY15."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209140008/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysts-predict-a-10-u-2-retirements-in-fy15-395693/ |date=9 February 2014 }} ''Flightglobal.com'', 7 February 2014. Retrieved: 7 December 2015.</ref> Critics have pointed out that the RQ-4's cameras and sensors are less capable, and lack all-weather operating capability; however, some of the U-2's sensors may be installed on the RQ-4.<ref>Sisk, Richard. [http://www.dodbuzz.com/2014/02/27/global-hawk-trails-u-2-despite-retirement-plans/ "Global Hawk trails U-2 despite retirement plans."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227211642/http://www.dodbuzz.com/2014/02/27/global-hawk-trails-u-2-despite-retirement-plans/ |date=27 February 2014 }} ''DoDBuzz.com'', 27 February 2014. Retrieved: 7 December 2015.</ref> The RQ-4 Block 30's capabilities were planned to match the U-2's by [[Fiscal Year|FY]] 2016, the replacement effort is motivated by decreases in the RQ-4's cost per flying hour.<ref>Mehta, Aaron. [http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20140302234746/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140302/DEFREG02/303020018/Global%2DHawk%2DSaved%2D10%2Ds%2DChances%2DDim "Global Hawk saved, but A-10's chances are dim."] ''Defense News'', 2 March 2014. Retrieved: 7 December 2015.</ref>

The U-2's retirement was calculated to save $2.2 billion. $1.77 billion will have to be spent over 10 years to enhance the RQ-4, including $500 million on a universal payload adapter to attach one U-2 sensor onto the RQ-4. USAF officials fear that retiring the U-2 amid RQ-4 upgrades will create a capability gap<ref>Mehta, Aaron. [https://archive.today/20150217153723/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140329/DEFREG02/303290022/Scrapping-U-2-Won-t-Save-Much-Touted "Scrapping U-2 won't save as much as touted."] ''Defense News'', 29 March 2014. Retrieved: 7 December 2015.</ref> In the [[House Armed Services Committee]]'s markup of the FY 2015 budget, language was included prohibiting the use of funds to retire or store the U-2; it also requested a report outlining the transition capabilities from the U-2 to the RQ-4 Block 30 in light of capability gap concerns.<ref>Mehta, Aaron.[http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20140505/NEWS05/305050039/HASC-markup-limits-Air-Force-options-10-U-2 "HASC markup limits Air Force options on A-10, U-2."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506185340/http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20140505/NEWS05/305050039/HASC-markup-limits-Air-Force-options-10-U-2 |date=6 May 2014 }} ''Military Times'', 5 May 2014. Retrieved: 7 December 2015.</ref>

In late 2014, Lockheed Martin proposed an unmanned U-2 version with greater payload capability,<ref name=amy1>Butler, Amy. [http://aviationweek.com/defense/lockheed-updates-unmanned-u-2-concept "Lockheed updates unmanned U-2 concept."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141124213231/http://aviationweek.com/defense/lockheed-updates-unmanned-u-2-concept |date=24 November 2014 }} ''Aviation Week'', 24 November 2014. Retrieved: 7 December 2015.</ref> but the concept did not gain traction with the USAF.<ref name="flightglobal31july15">Drew, James. [http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/u-2-poised-to-receive-radar-upgrade-but-not-un-manned-415291/ "U-2 poised to receive radar upgrade, but not un-manned conversion."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820211759/https://www.flightglobal.com/u-2-poised-to-receive-radar-upgrade-but-not-un-manned-conversion/117815.article |date=20 August 2024 }} ''Flightglobal.com'', 31 July 2015. Retrieved: 7 December 2015.</ref> In early 2015, the USAF was directed to restart modest funding for the U-2 for operations and research, development, and procurement through to FY 2018.<ref>Butler, Amy. [http://aviationweek.com/defense/2016-budget-bring-u-2-stay-execution "2016 budget to bring U-2 stay of execution."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217183650/http://aviationweek.com/defense/2016-budget-bring-u-2-stay-execution |date=17 February 2015 }} ''Aviation Week'', 14 January 2015. Retrieved: 7 December 2015.</ref> The former head of the USAF [[Air Combat Command]], Gen. Mike Hostage helped extend the U-2S to ensure commanders receive sufficient [[intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance]] (ISR) coverage; stating "it will take eight years before the RQ-4 Global Hawk fleet can support 90% of the coverage of the U-2 fleet."<ref>Clark, Colin. and Sydney J. Freedberg, ed. [http://breakingdefense.com/2015/02/air-force-riding-budget-boost-warns-on-sequester-u-2-is-back/ "Air Force, riding budget boost, warns on sequester; U-2 is BACK!"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312172535/http://breakingdefense.com/2015/02/air-force-riding-budget-boost-warns-on-sequester-u-2-is-back/ |date=12 March 2015 }} ''Breakingdefense.com'', 2 February 2015. Retrieved: 25 February 2015.</ref> In 2015, the RQ-4 was planned to replace the U-2 by 2019, though Lockheed states the U-2 can remain viable until 2050.<ref name="flightglobal31july15"/> As of January 2018, the U.S. Air Force budget for 2018 had indefinitely postponed the retirement of the U-2.<ref>Insinna, Vallerie. [http://defensenews.va.newsmemory.com/ "With U-2 safe, operators vie for greater investment"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123183242/http://defensenews.va.newsmemory.com/ |date=23 November 2020 }}. ''Defense News'', Vol. 33 No. 1 (p. 13), 8 January 2018.</ref> In February 2020, the U.S. Air Force submitted budget documents with confusing language suggesting that it could begin retiring U-2s in 2025 but clarified afterwards that no retirement is planned.<ref>Cohen, Rachel S. [https://www.airforcemag.com/budget-elicits-confusion-over-fate-of-u2/ "Budget Elicits Confusion Over Fate of U-2"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212215308/https://www.airforcemag.com/budget-elicits-confusion-over-fate-of-u2/ |date=12 February 2020 }}. ''Airforce Magazine'', 11 February 2020.</ref>

On 20 September 2016, a TU-2S trainer crashed upon takeoff from Beale Air Force Base, killing one pilot and injuring the other.<ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/2016/09/20/politics/california-u-2-crash/index.html "U2 crash in California"] . ''[[CNN]]'', 20 September 2016. Retrieved: 20 September 2016.</ref>

In early August 2018, NASA flew two missions using infrared sensors to map the [[Mendocino Complex Fire]]. The flights used the [[Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer]] (MODIS) and [[Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer]] (ASTER) satellite instruments.<ref name="TD20180828">{{cite web |last1=Levine |first1=Jay |title=NASA assists in efforts to contain California wildfires |url=http://www.terradaily.com/reports/NASA_assists_in_efforts_to_contain_California_wildfires_999.html |website=TerraDaily |publisher=Space Media Network |access-date=31 October 2018 |location=[[Edwards Air Force Base|Edwards AFB CA (SPX)]] |date=28 August 2018 |archive-date=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127030953/http://www.terradaily.com/reports/NASA_assists_in_efforts_to_contain_California_wildfires_999.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:U-2 Pilot over Central Continental United States (7644960).jpg|thumb|right|U-2 pilot takes a selfie with both the U-2 shadow and the balloon while surveilling the Chinese asset over the US during the [[2023 Chinese balloon incident]]]] 
In 2020, the U-2 made history as the first military aircraft to integrate [[Artificial intelligence|Artificial Intelligence]] on a mission.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gregg |first=Aaron |date=December 16, 2020 |title=In a first, Air Force uses AI on military jet |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/12/16/air-force-artificial-intelligence/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=11 February 2023 |archive-date=1 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801191802/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/12/16/air-force-artificial-intelligence/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The AI program, code-named ARTUμ, was developed by the U-2 Federal Laboratory.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tegler |first=Eric |date=16 Dec 2020 |title=An AI Co-Pilot Called 'ARTUμ' Just Took Command of A U-2's Sensor Systems On A Recon Mission |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erictegler/2020/12/16/an-ai-co-pilot-called-artujust-took-command-of-a-u-2s-sensor-systems-on-a-reconnaissance-mission/?sh=29f6d7b61f08 |website=Forbes |access-date=11 February 2023 |archive-date=11 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211073739/https://www.forbes.com/sites/erictegler/2020/12/16/an-ai-co-pilot-called-artujust-took-command-of-a-u-2s-sensor-systems-on-a-reconnaissance-mission/?sh=29f6d7b61f08 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the [[2023 Chinese balloon incident]], the U.S. Air Force used U-2 aircraft to monitor a Chinese balloon that crossed the United States and Canada. U-2 flights confirmed the balloon's surveillance package was outfitted with multiple antennas capable of conducting [[signals intelligence]] collection operations and that the craft had large [[solar panel]]s to power them.<ref>[https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/u-2-spy-planes-snooped-on-chinese-surveillance-balloon "U-2 Spy Planes Snooped On Chinese Surveillance Balloon"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207020108/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/u-2-spy-planes-snooped-on-chinese-surveillance-balloon |date=7 February 2023 }}. The Drive blog, 6 February 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.airandspaceforces.com/us-used-u-2-to-gather-intelligence-on-chinese-spy-balloon/ "US Used U-2 to Gather Intelligence on Chinese Spy Balloon"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212173744/https://www.airandspaceforces.com/us-used-u-2-to-gather-intelligence-on-chinese-spy-balloon/ |date=12 February 2023 }}. ''Air & Space Forces Magazine'', 9 February 2023.</ref>

In 2025, [[Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|Air Force Chief of Staff]] General [[David W. Allvin|David Allvin]] confirmed that the U-2 was being used to surveil the [[Mexico–United States border|US-Mexico border]]. The U-2 and [[Boeing RC-135|RC-135 Rivet Joint]] were used for [[Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance|ISR]] operations to track [[Cartels in Mexico|cartels]] located in Mexico.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trevithick |first=Joseph |date=2025-03-14 |title=U-2 Spy Planes Are Flying Border Security Missions Air Force Confirms |url=https://www.twz.com/air/u-2-spy-planes-are-flying-border-security-missions-air-force-confirms |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=The War Zone |language=en-US}}</ref>