How It Works-Amazing Vehicles

different gadgets and gizmos that can be

attached, built in, added or upgraded in order to

turn an ordinary military aircraft into a hub of

digital sensor y perception. Radar and sonar, for

example, use radio and sound waves

(respectively) that bounce off objects to

pinpoint their location.

Reconnaissance aircraft will often carry

high-resolution imaging equipment, with

top-level zooms and digital v ideo streaming

and recording capabilities. Thermal imaging

and infrared sensors are other payload

regulars, along with a plethora of

communications interceptors, acoustic

monitoring and many other ways to listen in on

the rest of the world. The data is delivered to

analysts either onboard or on the ground via

high-speed real-time links, so the intelligence

gathered can be used advantageously.

It would seem that the future for ISR missions

involves plenty of speed, power and altitude

with the benefi t of automated features.

Although there are no plans to retire the old

faithfuls like Lockheed’s U-2 Dragon Lady just

yet, there are also plent y of rumours circulating

about plans for faster, meaner, more

multifunctional spy planes.

One such concept is the TR-X – another

Lockheed invention from their famous Skunk

Works spy plane creation station in California.

The planning stages are still in their infanc y,

but Lockheed have stated this spy plane will

take the best bits of all the other great spy

planes in the skies today and roll them into one

mega plane that could be deployed by 2030. You

could keep your eyes on the sk y, but you would

probably never see it coming.

The Lockheed U-2 cockpit is packed
full of high-tech features designed
to inform and assist the pilot

The Lockheed U-2

reconnaissance

plane is regarded as

one of the world’s

top spy planes

Cabin pressure

To prevent decompression

sickness, 2013 saw cockpit

pressure adjusted from the

equivalent of 8,840m (nearly the

height of Everest) to 4,570m.

Payload

Even at such high

altitude, the aircraft

can carry 2,270kg

of sensors and

other mission-

specifi c equipment.

Wingspan

With a tip-to-tip width of 31.4m,

the U-2’s wingspan is perfectly

tuned to provide lift for its

high-altitude missions.

Landing gear

The wheels are behind one

another at the front and

back, and the plane comes

to a stop with one wingtip

scraping the ground.

MILITARY