Is U-2 Handwriting On the Wall?: 
At least two news reports claim the Pentagon has decided to speed the retirement of USAF’s high-flying U-2 reconnaissance aircraft as one more step to ease budget woes. Gen. Michael Moseley, USAF Chief of Staff, has said that he thinks the Global Hawk UAV is ready to replace the U-2. The Air Force has made upgrades to the Dragon Lady and planned to keep them flying until at least 2020.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.