A reconnaissance aircraft (colloquially, a spy plane) is a military aircraft designed or adapted to perform aerial reconnaissance with roles including collection of imagery intelligence (including using photography), signals intelligence, as well as measurement and signature intelligence.

The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed " Dragon Lady ", is an American single-engine, high altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated since the 1950s by the United States Air Force (USAF) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). It provides day and night, high-altitude (70,000 feet, 21,300 meters), all-weather intelligence gathering. [1]

This is a list of aircraft used by the United States Air Force and its predecessor organizations for combat aerial reconnaissance and aerial mapping. The first aircraft acquired by the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps were not fighters or bombers but reconnaissance aircraft .

2018年9月14日 · And as technology improved, so did our ability to get a “birds eye view” on our enemy – whether that was in the form of a sleek, sexy and fast SR-71 “Blackbird” or the slow moving, strike capable MQ-1B “Predator.” Here’s a look at some of the best US military spy planes in the last 80 years.

2025年1月16日 · U-2, single-seat, high-altitude jet flown by the United States for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Perhaps the most famous spy plane ever built, the U-2, also known as the Dragon Lady, has been in service since 1956. A prototype flew in 1955, and the last plane in the series was built in 1989.

2023年5月12日 · In this guide, we will explore the 10 most advanced and sophisticated spy planes in use today. We’ll examine their specifications, history, onboard systems, and impact in major conflicts and surveillance operations. Learn about the technological advances that have produced these unique aircraft and why they stand out from the rest.

Often confused with one another, CIA’s A-12 OXCART and the US Air Force’s SR-71 Blackbird are actually two different aircraft. CIA developed the highly secret A-12 OXCART (above right) as the U-2 spy plane’s successor, intended to meet the nation’s need for a very fast, very high-flying reconnaissance aircraft that could avoid Soviet air defenses.

2019年12月20日 · From the U-2 spy planes of the Cold War era to a purely experimental Star Trek-inspired craft from the 1990s, here are six of Area 51’s most intriguing aircraft.

2024年9月19日 · From the Cold War era legends to cutting-edge UAVs, this article explores the most commonly used spy planes in the world. We’ll delve into their unique features, capabilities, and contributions to global intelligence.

The U-2S Dragon Lady is an agile and reliable high-altitude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft that flies 24/7/365 to ensure global security with unparalleled performance.