The Dragon Lady is getting some new tools. BAE Systems says that the Air Force’s U-2 reconnaissance aircraft has attained initial operational capability with the new AN/ALQ-221 Advanced Defensive System. The AN/ALQ-221 is a modern integrated radar warning receiver and electronic countermeasure system that provides pilots with situational awareness and self-protection against current and future threats, according to BAE. The system is part of the Block 20 U-2 modernization program and is integrated with the aircraft’s upgraded avionics processor and multifunction cockpit displays.
House, Senate Unveil Competing Proposals for 2026 Budget
July 11, 2025
Lawmakers from the House and Senate laid out competing versions of the annual defense policy bill on July 11, with vastly different potential outcomes for some of the Air Force’s most embattled programs.