US tests new advanced capabilities aboard the U-2 aircraft

News, US September 30, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The United States Air Force in partnership with the leading defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin successfully completed the first flight of the U-2 Dragon Lady aircraft’s Avionics Tech Refresh (ATR) program. During the flight, new advanced capabilities were tested aboard the U-2 as part of the ATR contract.

The company said in a statement that during the flight mission “The aircraft successfully performed a low-altitude functional check flight to integrate new avionics, cabling, and software.”

U-2 Avionics Tech Refresh program manager at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Sean Thatcher said, “The successful first flight of the U-2 Avionics Tech Refresh is a significant moment in our journey to rapidly and affordably field new capabilities.”

“Leveraging the platform’s open architecture, we’re expediting these capabilities needed for the future Joint All-Domain Operations battlespace,” Thatcher added.

According to the Lockheed Martin statement, tested capabilities included:

An updated avionics suite, including communications, navigation, and display, that allows the U-2 aircraft’s onboard systems to integrate with modern technology.
A new mission computer with advanced security settings that allows the U-2 aircraft to integrate with systems across air, space, sea, land, and cyber domains. The system was designed to meet the standards of the U.S. Air Force’s open mission systems (OMS).
An advanced cockpit display that allows the pilot to effectively perform different tasks more easily, enhancing the presentation of the data the U-2 aircraft collects to enable faster and better-informed decisions.

The Lockheed Martin statement highlighted that “The ATR first flight marks a milestone in the U-2’s modernization efforts and its path to be the first fully OMS-compliant fleet. Further testing will solidify a mature software baseline before mission systems are introduced to ensure both functionality and interoperability to meet operational needs.”

U-2 Dragon Lady Aircraft

The U-2 Dragon Lady is an agile high-altitude intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft that can fly at 70,000 feet. The aircraft’s unique modular design enables the aircraft to be rapidly integrated with next-generation capabilities and technologies and perform Joint All-Domain Operations missions.

The aircraft can send and receive bidirectional data from fifth-generation fighter jets, including F-35 and F-22, as well as capable of tapping into Link-16 communications and link with all fourth-generation aircraft.

U-2 Dragon Lady has an open mission system-compliant avionic suit that allows it to connect to various unmanned systems and maritime assets. The aircraft can also connect to ground stations using an open mission systems tactical gateway, as well as connect and provide information support to missile systems on the ground.

The aircraft can perform in all weather conditions with a 97% mission success rate. In 2020, the U.S. Air Force awarded the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works a $50 million contract for the U-2 ATR.