The concentration of the Russian army on the border of Ukraine forced the US Air Force to raise the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft

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The concentration of the Russian army on the border of Ukraine forced the US Air Force to raise the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft

Recent events around Ukraine and the hysteria raised by the West over the alleged concentration of the Russian army on the Ukrainian border, forced the US Air Force to take the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft into the air. Writes about this British edition of the Daily Mail.

According to the publication, an American intelligence officer was raised from the Fairford airbase in the UK and made several flights to the Russian-Ukrainian border area, where he tracked the redeployment of Russian troops. In addition, U-2 monitored the return of units and formations from exercises to their permanent deployment points. Thus, he acted simultaneously or in parallel with drones RQ-4A Global Hawk, which in recent years have also frequented the Russian borders.



Information on departures is scarce. It is known that this aircraft has been deployed at the British base for a long time, last year it was spotted near Kaliningrad. In recent weeks, the plane has often been seen in the skies over the British base, i.e. he flew more than one or even two flights to Europe, where American reconnaissance assets were already too much to be squeezed through.

The reconnaissance aircraft created in the early 50s of the last century was intended to be completely decommissioned in 2014, later replacing the entire U-2 fleet with strategic RQ-4 Global Hawk drones. The main reason was the obsolescence of the aircraft and the significant cost of one flight hour compared to the UAV. However, in 2017, plans to decommission the aircraft were abandoned, stating the need to develop new surveillance and reconnaissance equipment for the U-2.

In 2019, the US Air Force announced the upcoming modernization of the entire fleet of U-2 Dragon Lady aircraft. In the course of work, the aircraft should receive new avionics, a flight control computer and a dashboard.
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    1. +10
      April 26 2021 07: 59
      What sacrifices! And all for the sake of the safety of Euro-slaves.
      1. +3
        April 26 2021 08: 10
        The pence was called out of the stock at double rate. ))
        1. +3
          April 26 2021 08: 56
          Having given Globala again near the Crimea, infusions from Italy and Israel.
      2. +1
        April 26 2021 08: 20
        Quote: Andrey Nikolaevich
        What sacrifices! And all for the sake of the safety of Euro-slaves.

        For the sake of translating YOUR plans into reality ...
        It's time, oh, it's time to put the MiG-31 on duty there ... since the M-17 Stratosphere project has been ruined,

        and the M-55 "Geophysics" quietly rotting somewhere at the airfields
        1. +1
          April 26 2021 10: 44
          There are two types of intelligence. Undercover and technical. When the enemy is overly technical, it means he has a problem with the agent. Under the Iron Curtain, their spies worked very hard, so they got the U-2, SR-71, etc., and were born. As we can see in Crimea and not only, ukroagents are periodically covered. Those. counterintelligence works and apparently paralyzed this type of activity. Here, the old man was uncovered. The Global Hawks are failing. Again, why? Something our electronic warfare interferes with them at all. I had to put good old John at the helm and equipment. EW is not working his brain yet.
          1. +1
            April 26 2021 14: 04
            The SR-71 was supposed to be taken out of a dusty attic, a bit modernized and equipped with electronic warfare?
            1. +2
              April 26 2021 14: 11
              They had a couple of acting ones, and they were like the flying laboratories of the space agency. The US Air Force no longer has them. Now, probably, the resource is finally exhausted. Well, maybe enough for a few experimental flights. Therefore, nothing.
              1. +5
                April 26 2021 14: 13
                An interesting car, although it had no weapons. Unlike the SR-71, the MiG-31 is a full-fledged high-altitude interceptor.
        2. +1
          April 26 2021 14: 02
          What kind of flyers are they? never heard! thanks for the information, you need to read about these projects, interesting!
      3. +9
        April 26 2021 08: 38
        Why was the old scout raised? Russia did not hide the fact that it was moving its troops on its territory - how, where and when it wanted. And, by the way, very quickly.
        1. SSR
          +5
          April 26 2021 09: 07
          Quote: Clear
          Why was the old scout raised? Russia did not hide the fact that it was moving its troops on its territory.

          Well, how could it be otherwise? Russian troops near the borders of Ukraine are a direct threat to the states of California, Texas, etc., the hybrid troops of the Mexican Buryats are ready to invade, and do not forget the US threat from Canada, the Yamalo-Nenets mixed army is also ready to attack.
        2. +6
          April 26 2021 09: 19
          What do you mean why? Powers' feat to repeat. They began to forget something.
        3. +2
          April 26 2021 10: 48
          Quote: Clear
          Why was the old scout raised?

          How would you explain ... to see what Russia skillfully hid, at the moment when
          Quote: Clear
          Russia and so did not hide
        4. 0
          April 26 2021 10: 59
          Why was the old scout raised? Russia did not hide the fact that it was moving its troops on its territory - how, where and when it wanted. And, by the way, very quickly.

          That's why they raised them to see what Russia is hiding. Unexpected, right? )
          1. +2
            April 26 2021 14: 07
            Quote: Bradley
            Why was the old scout raised? Russia did not hide the fact that it was moving its troops on its territory - how, where and when it wanted. And, by the way, very quickly.

            That's why they raised them to see what Russia is hiding. Unexpected, right? )

            Unexpectedly for them it was in ... Crimea, Syria, the Arctic ... a joint with Belarus ... bully
            1. 0
              April 26 2021 15: 07
              Unexpectedly for them, it was in ... Crimea, Syria, the Arctic ... a joint with Belarus ... bully

              And what is the "surprise" in the Arctic?
              1. +3
                April 26 2021 17: 58
                Quote: Bradley
                Unexpectedly for them, it was in ... Crimea, Syria, the Arctic ... a joint with Belarus ... bully

                And what is the "surprise" in the Arctic?

                You that wink There is a serious movement fellow
                Apart from the icebreaker fleet, a modern military infrastructure is being created from scratch on the Arctic archipelagos with high-tech and effective monitoring systems in all environments - in the air, on water and under water.
                Unique complexes "Arctic Trefoil" and "North Clover" were erected on Franz Josef Land and the New Siberian Islands - no other state in the world has similar complexes in high latitudes.

                In the "Trefoil" area of ​​14 thousand square meters, 150 soldiers and officers can be completely autonomous for up to one and a half years. There is a power plant, a water treatment plant, a sewerage system. Almost all rooms are isolated from the external environment and connected by covered galleries. "North Clover" is built on the same principle, but it is already designed for 250 people.
                1. 0
                  April 26 2021 23: 15
                  You that wink There is a serious fellow
                  Apart from the icebreaker fleet, a modern military infrastructure is being created from scratch on the Arctic archipelagos with high-tech and effective monitoring systems in all environments - in the air, on water and under water.
                  Unique complexes "Arctic Trefoil" and "North Clover" were erected on Franz Josef Land and the New Siberian Islands - no other state in the world has similar complexes in high latitudes.

                  In the "Trefoil" area of ​​14 thousand square meters, 150 soldiers and officers can be completely autonomous for up to one and a half years. There is a power plant, a water treatment plant, a sewerage system. Almost all rooms are isolated from the external environment and connected by covered galleries. "North Clover" is built on the same principle, but it is already designed for 250 people.

                  Thanks for the info. Well, since you and I now know about this, then for "them" it is hardly a "surprise".)
                  1. +1
                    April 27 2021 08: 40
                    Quote: Bradley
                    Well, since you and I now know about this, then for "them" it is hardly a "surprise".)

                    It's a pity, crying and we, they so wanted to like it winked
                    1. 0
                      April 27 2021 11: 58
                      Sorry crying and we, they wanted to like it so winked

                      I think they like us anyway.
    2. +8
      April 26 2021 08: 02
      According to the newspaper, the American intelligence officer was raised from Fairford airbase in Great Britain and made several flights to the area of ​​the Russian-Ukrainian border, where he monitored the redeployment of Russian troops.

      And why track Russian troops, they are on the territory of Russia, and they are not hiding from anyone. Everything happens in full openness. Either again, the American generals smoked a triple dose of Afghani, or injected themselves with a mixture of diphenhydramine and valocardine.
      1. +3
        April 26 2021 08: 09

        tihonmarine (Vlad)
        Today, 08: 02
        0
        According to the newspaper, the American intelligence officer was raised from Fairford airbase in Great Britain and made several flights to the area of ​​the Russian-Ukrainian border, where he monitored the redeployment of Russian troops.

        And why track Russian troops, they are on the territory of Russia, and they are not hiding from anyone. Everything happens in full openness. Either again, the American generals smoked a triple dose of Afghani, or injected themselves with a mixture of diphenhydramine and valocardine.

        The Merikatos have forgotten what happened on May 1, 1960:
        For the destruction of the American U-2C reconnaissance aircraft with serial number 360 and board number 56-6693 were awarded the Orders of the Red Banner Major MR Voronov, Captain NI Sheludko, Senior Lieutenant SI Safronov (posthumously); Orders of the Red Star were awarded to Lieutenant GD Bukin, Senior Lieutenant E.E. Feldblum, Captain V.V. Chernushkevich, Captain V.I.
        1. +7
          April 26 2021 08: 15
          Quote: aszzz888
          The Merikatos have forgotten what happened on May 1, 1960:

          Those who send their U-2s don't remember this because they weren't born in 1960.
          1. +1
            April 26 2021 08: 18

            tihonmarine (Vlad)
            Today, 08: 15

            0
            Quote: aszzz888
            The Merikatos have forgotten what happened on May 1, 1960:

            Those who send their U-2s don't remember this because they weren't born in 1960.
            But don't they have to remember their history a little? Or are they all purple? wink
            1. +5
              April 26 2021 08: 31
              Quote: aszzz888
              But don't they have to remember their history a little? Or are they all purple?

              It turns out that it is purple. They think they are smarter than those who lived in the 60s.
            2. +3
              April 26 2021 08: 32
              Quote: aszzz888
              But don't they have to remember their history a little? Or are they all purple?

              fool he learns from his mistakes, the smart one learns from strangers, the sage does not make mistakes.

              Smart or wise , with an eye to their actions, it is difficult to name the United States ...
          2. +2
            April 26 2021 09: 06
            The pilot should be congratulated on May 1.
            1. -3
              April 26 2021 10: 05
              Quote: BARKAS
              The pilot should be congratulated on May 1.

              For the U-2 pilots, for some time now, May 1, is not a flying day. Honoring traditions lol

              1. +1
                April 26 2021 16: 59
                But Powers can be congratulated on his birthday: after all, he did not crack the ampoule with cyanide. laughing Yes
          3. -1
            April 26 2021 10: 25
            The fact of the matter is that the "senders" were not yet born in 1960, and the plane had already flown for several years. Reconnaissance analogue of Tu-95 and B-52 bombers.
    3. -1
      April 26 2021 08: 03
      Additionally, U-2 watched the return of units and formations from the exercises to the points of permanent deployment. Thus, he acted simultaneously or in parallel with the drones. RQ-4A Global Hawk, which in the latter have also become frequent visitors to the Russian borders.
      Don't trust each other? laughing
      1. +5
        April 26 2021 08: 20
        Quote: aszzz888
        Don't trust each other?
        Our drones seem to have bothered them with interference, so they decided to introduce the human factor for reliability.
        1. -1
          April 26 2021 08: 22

          mark1
          Today, 08: 20

          0
          Quote: aszzz888
          Don't trust each other?
          Our drones seem to have bothered them with interference, so they decided to introduce the human factor for reliability.
          It is quite possible that such an option is also possible.
      2. +1
        April 26 2021 09: 24
        Quote: aszzz888
        Don't trust each other?

        Rather, their reconnaissance equipment complements each other (on the Global and on the U-2)
    4. +1
      April 26 2021 08: 30
      And in Sochi, until recently, there lived a senior lieutenant who sent U 2 to Cuban soil by pressing the launch button of the missile system. A propaganda trick with U 2, such as Russia, is so threatening that you have to use the last reserves!
    5. +2
      April 26 2021 08: 31
      I’m wondering how they can turn everything upside down. And people, most importantly, believe this. It didn't start yesterday either. They have been doing this throughout the history of the statehood of Russia.
      1. +7
        April 26 2021 08: 42
        Quote: Blond84
        I’m wondering how they can turn everything upside down.

        Because they are shameless.

        Quote: Blond84
        And people, most importantly, believe this.

        That's why they lie to them.

        Quote: Blond84
        They have been doing this throughout the history of the statehood of Russia.

        Because they are afraid of Russia.
    6. +2
      April 26 2021 08: 47
      What happened, the resource RQ-4A Global Hawk let us down, that you had to raise not a cheap U-2, or are you so concerned about safety?
    7. 0
      April 26 2021 08: 55
      The concentration of the Russian army on the border of Ukraine forced the US Air Force to raise the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft
      Okay, they fly, scout and probably know what and how ... and so what? Will there be less screeching? Or more?
    8. +1
      April 26 2021 09: 00
      However, in 2017, plans to write off the aircraft were abandoned, saying that it was necessary to develop new surveillance and reconnaissance equipment for the U-2.

      Why?
      This means that U2 can do what the RQ-4 Global Hawk cannot do yet ...
      1. +6
        April 26 2021 09: 06
        A living pilot is much more resistant to electronic warfare than a robot.
        1. 0
          April 26 2021 09: 10
          Perhaps, but judging by such a rapid development of reconnaissance and strike UAVs, in recent years, protection against countermeasures (EW) is provided for them ...
          1. +4
            April 26 2021 09: 25
            Rather, the UAV has enough capabilities against weak air defense and an enemy that does not have electronic warfare equipment. And serious countries have a wide range of electronic warfare systems, therefore, it is necessary to duplicate UAVs also with manned vehicles, because it is known that the Russian Federation is one of the leaders in electronic warfare systems.
          2. +2
            April 26 2021 09: 27
            "Protection against countermeasures (EW) is provided for them ...." - in the confrontation between countermeasures and jamming means, interference will always win, this is an axiom. It's like a fight between a projectile and armor.
            1. +1
              April 26 2021 09: 33
              Quote: Sergey Valov
              It's like a fight between a projectile and armor.

              Interesting comparison.
              However, it is doubtful that everything is so simple. Too much money is being invested in unmanned platforms ... For today, perhaps. But in the future ...
              Hopefully, Russia will not lose its leadership in the development of electronic warfare systems.
              1. +3
                April 26 2021 15: 01
                “Everything is so simple” - let's think a little. In principle, the element base on the drone and the ground-based electronic warfare facility is the same, the brains developing both systems are the same. But the signal power, volumes and weights of ground-based electronic warfare equipment are a priori almost limitless, in contrast to those placed on board the aircraft. So the conclusion is unambiguous.
        2. +1
          April 26 2021 09: 33
          Not only. In the event of a loss of communication with the base, the pilot is much more effective than an on-board computer, he sees and evaluates the environment much better than the ground operator, the weather factor for the pilot is less critical ...
        3. +1
          April 26 2021 12: 17
          Quote: Roma-1977
          A living pilot is much more resistant to electronic warfare equipment,

          than to sodium pentothal. Yes laughing
    9. 0
      April 26 2021 10: 38
      On May 1, exactly 61 years ago, U-2 was shot down over the territory of the USSR. Probably for this significant date they decided to put an old man on the wing? Reconnaissance aircraft, UAVs, NATO ships cannot cope without it, and Ukraine feels uneasy. But now everything will definitely work out ...
    10. +2
      April 26 2021 11: 05
      And I am interested in this spy in a slightly different context. To create such an airplane in the distant 50s ...! and not just TTX I mean ... Masterpiece! And another, no less famous - SR 71 ... By the way, I suspect that 40 years ago I had a “relation” to the latter. Just in case, the officer on duty assured us that it was this Miracle that we were accompanying. Judging by the speed, perhaps. But how could this Socialist-Revolutionary be in my beloved Krasnoyarsk endless region? the question, as they say, is open. My eternally grateful listener, grandson Aslan, believes. On my .... objections that there could be a MIG 25 in the area, he absolutely does not pay attention. Unfortunately, VO is more picky guys. But from the Soviet, for me, the old air defense officer, TU 16 is the most sympathetic, but, prudently, I will keep quiet. Suddenly this eternally critical flyer of ours is waiting for that ...
    11. 0
      April 26 2021 19: 37
      Who knows why the United States is in service with the U-2, albeit a modernized one if there is an RQ-4?
    12. 0
      April 27 2021 00: 45
      And I already thought that Bono had a firecracker in the ass! what
    13. 0
      April 28 2021 16: 06
      Agreed. Let it be secret. We will not tell anyone about this either;)

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