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retired U-2 reconnaissance aircraft damaged in 2008 during scheduled maintenance arrived at Robins AFB, Ga., where technicians will repair it and return it to operational status, according to U-2 program officials. This U-2 is a 1980s model with a more rigid airframe than earlier Dragon Lady variants, according to an Aug. 30 Robins release. It came to Robins on a truck, reaching the base on Aug. 24, states the release. The decision to repair the U-2 at Robins is the result of a new partnership between the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s command and control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance division and the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex. It’s possible that this U-2 overhaul will be the start of long-term organic support for the Dragon Lady fleet at Warner Robins, since the Air Force now intends to keep U-2s operating to 2025, according to the release. Palmdale, Calif., is the home of U-2 periodic depot maintenance today. (Robins report by April Benton)
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.