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.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
