The Air Force is pursing upgrades to keep the high-flying U-2 reconnaissance aircraft useful—at least until 2011—even as the service investigates whether it should keep the aircraft but dump the pilot. The Dragon Lady, now getting a dual data link capability among other improvements, was high on the service’s list of aircraft to retire. An Air Combat Command news release notes that the Dual Data Link 2 enables the U-2 to give real-time intelligence to both combatant commanders on the ground and ground stations in the US. Maj. Thomas Bailey, DDL2 program manager, says the data link gives the Air Force a 100 percent increase in raw intelligence data.
U.S. aircraft, drones, and attack helicopters have launched significant airstrikes in recent days against Islamic State militants in Syria as part of the renewed air campaign against remnants of the group, U.S. officials said.
