U-2 Phaseout

Feb. 18, 2011

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Air Force Secretary Michael Donley said Friday the service will start closing down the U-2 depot support capability soon, and that the venerable surveillance aircraft may depart the inventory circa 2015. USAF officials “adjusted” that date to account for the fact that the service has “truncated” its buy of RQ-4 Global Hawk Block 40 aircraft from 22 to 11 aircraft, he told reporters at AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla.

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Trending Stories

T-38 Crash That Briefly Paused Flights Caused by ‘Under-Torqued’ Pin

Space Force Weighs Proliferated Cislunar Satellite Constellation

Flu Vaccine Now Required for Many Airmen, Guardians, and DAF Civilians

Two ‘Non-Hostile’ Deaths Raise Iran War Toll to 23

Related

First HH-60W Arrives at Andrews for Contingency Response, VIP Transport

Nov. 3, 2026
Like a new car from the dealership, an HH-60W helicopter touched down at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Nov. 2 with paperwork, a set of keys, and that fresh-from-the-factory smell. The newly activated 5th Helicopter Squadron accepted its first “Whiskey” in a brief but pomp-filled ceremony attended by the Air…

T-38 Crash That Briefly Paused Flights Caused by ‘Under-Torqued’ Pin

Nov. 2, 2026
The crash of a T-38 trainer jet this May—which caused a weekslong pause in flights across the fleet—was caused by an improperly installed pin for one of the jet’s horizontal stabilizers, according to a new accident report released Oct. 30. When the pin disengaged midflight, it created the slightest amount…

Key Midterm Election Races to Watch for the Air Force and Space Force

Nov. 2, 2026
Dozens of former Airmen are running for Congress in the 2026 midterms, with Election Day fast approaching on Nov. 3. But the potential impact of the election for the Air Force and Space Force goes beyond just the number of former service members on Capitol Hill—the results will also decide…

Flu Vaccine Now Required for Many Airmen, Guardians, and DAF Civilians

Oct. 31, 2026
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.

Promotions for Space Force’s Second-Highest Enlisted Rank Explode

Oct. 30, 2026
Promotions to the Space Force’s second highest enlisted grade, senior master sergeant, have surged to the highest level in the young service’s history, bolstering the senior NCO corps as officials plan to aggressively expand the force and especially the enlisted corps.