Page 1 - Aerotech News and Review 9-4-15

Lockheed Martin celebration 60 years of U-2

CZ-JOEB,$3FZOPMET
staff writer

Lockheed Martin is celebrating Lockheed Martin photograph
60 years of the U-2 program with
festivities planned throughout the /RFNKHHG0DUWLQFHOHEUDWHV\HDUVRIWKH8³'UDJRQ/DG\´²WKHPRVWFDSDEOHDQGUHOLDEOHKLJKDOWLWXGH,65SODWIRUPFRPSDUHGWRDQ\V\VWHPÀ\LQJ
company. today, manned or unmanned.

“It’s not a 60-year old aircraft, it The Air Force’s latest budget and if fired upon, the Navy was Today, China is dredging dirt KHDY\PLOLWDU\WUDQVSRUWDQG¿JKW-
is a 60-year old program that is still plan retires the U-2 in 2019, how- nearby and ready to respond im- and building a runway in the South
going strong,” said Melani Aus- ever fatigue tests show that the mediately. China Sea that is large enough for ers. “We want them to know we are
tin, U-2 program director at Skunk aircraft is structurally fit to fly
Works, Palmdale, Calif., during a through 2045. watching them,” says Winstead.
recent press tour. “We have people
that have started working on this Payloads can be changed quickly Lockheed Martin
program while they were in the Air depending on mission requirements. U-2 Test Pilots
Force and continued on with Lock- Rob “Skid”
heed. They believe in the mission ³,W¶VOLNHKDYLQJDUHDOJRRGZL¿ Row and Greg
and are still passionate about her.” in your house,” said Lockheed Mar- “Couch” Nelson,
tin U-2 Test Pilot Rob “Skid” Row pose in front of a
Also known as the Dragon Lady, who has more than 5,000 hours in U-2 undergoing
the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft was the aircraft. “The basics are already upgrades
designed by Clarence L. “Kelly” there so if you need a new printer, along with
Johnson, creator of Lockheed’s se- computer or smart TV you just plug photojournalist
cret “Skunk Works” research and it in and it automatically connects. Linda KC
development division and legendary That is pretty much how quickly the Reynolds and
designer of aircraft in 1955. Origi- 8FDQFRQ¿JXUH´ Aviation Week
nally planned for the Air Force but senior editor Guy
deemed to “risky,” the spy plane Scott Winstead, Lockheed Martin Norris. Pilots
was produced in only nine months U-2 strategic development manager must wear special
after conception for the CIA and — said that the U-2 is also valuable spacesuits while
under budget. for political messaging. When the À\LQJDQGHDWWKHLU
United Nations was surveilling for chicken dinners
“There really is nothing like her,” weapons of mass destruction, the and chocolate
said Greg “Couch” Nelson, Lock- U-2 was also monitoring the area. pudding through
heed Martin U-2 Test Pilot who a straw, often with
served 21 years in the Air Force, 17 “They invited us over to investi- added caffeine for
RIWKHPRQWKH8SURJUDPÀ\LQJ gate but threatened to shoot down long missions.
in all major theaters and other mis- a U-2 if we would not quit surveil-
sions including Africa and Korea. lance,” explained Winstead. Presi- Lockheed Martin photograph by David Henry
He has been with Lockheed Martin dent Clinton said to stay in the area
IRU¿YH\HDUV³,IVRPHWKLQJLVVWLU-
ring around the globe, you can rest
assured there is a U-2 overhead.”

Satellites replaced the SR-71
however Nelson feels nothing to
date can replace the U-2.

“Global Hawk was made to com-
pliment the U-2. It has its purpose
but when it comes to reconnais-
sance and relaying communication,
nothing beats the U-2. It doesn’t
simply make a pass, she can hang
out all day documenting what is go-
ing on and relay that in real time.”
Nelson said the U-2 can get to a tar-
get faster than Global Hawk and can
change mission requirements much,
much faster.

Always looking ahead, moni-
toring the global environment and
anticipating what the military may
need, Austin says Lockheed Mar-
tin engineers are constantly brain-
storming.

Currently they are designing a
next-generation high-altitude, long-
endurance (HALE) surveillance air-
plane, known as the RQ-X or UQ-2.

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