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re: U2 view of the Chinese "Weather" Balloon
Posted on 2/23/23 at 1:28 pm to #1TigerFan
Posted on 2/23/23 at 1:28 pm to #1TigerFan
quote:
I'd beat that there is a newer airframe that is also operational.
Man, I just read some stuff on Lockheed's website about the U-2/U-2S (had no idea we had a variant either) that says we maintain and operate a fleet of 31 U-2's. I figured we had maybe 5-10 since it was such a specialized platform. But they have been continuously upgrading the thing for 65 years or so now and have made it a high tech, high altitude AWACS sort of with all the sensor packages and communications upgrades they've done to the plane.
It can deliver reali-time data to 5th generation fighters, other support aircraft, ground troops, and maritime assets simultaneously.
It just really caught me by surprise that we still operate such a big fleet considering the mission-specific quality it was developed as. I will say that one thing our military does get right is adjusting the roles of some of the older aircraft like the A10, B52, AC130 etc. They were all built with specific missions in mind and have been adapted well beyond their planned service length and upgraded for modern objectives.
2
Posted on 2/23/23 at 1:54 pm to IAmNERD
quote:
we maintain and operate a fleet of 31 U-2's. I figured we had maybe 5-10 since it was such a specialized platform
I think there are two things at play here.
1. You want a couple backups in case the chinese or russians ever figure out how to shoot one down again. You'd hate to see those 5 disappear and they sure don't make them anymore.
2. The support costs are probably the same if there are 10 or 30. There are probably some specialized parts that Lockhood, Honeywell, GE, or some other defense contractor has to make and they probably request a bulk purchase of "100 widgets" or whatever to make it financially viable to product such widgets. You have setup and shipping charges that probably don't change if you buy tires or taillights for 10 planes or 30 planes.
Posted on 2/23/23 at 3:53 pm to IAmNERD
The U2 is basically a modular platform for different missions. Absolutely amazing aircraft the Soviets tried to copy and couldn't.
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