Dragon U-2

Dragon U-2 falls under the Air Force's Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) budget activity for Operational Systems Development. The primary goal of this program is to maintain the operational capability of the U-2 platform, a high-demand/low-density aircraft that provides Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) support to Combatant Commands, Joint and Combined forces, and the Intelligence Community in peacetime and wartime. The program aims to support core missions such as Sensitive Reconnaissance Operations outlined in CJCSI 3250.01 and execute CCMD OPLANs and CONPLANs. Additionally, it supports emergent and experimental RDT&E efforts in support of Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) and Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) as a platform surrogate for risk reduction.

The specific objectives of the Dragon U-2 program include maintaining the operational capability of the U-2 platform through contracted efforts addressing safety of flight issues, reliability, Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS), maintainability, supportability, flight test, and integration of capability development activities in support of the broader ISR portfolio. These efforts include completing flight tests of the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar System (ASARS)-2B/C, avionics technical refresh phase 1 flight test and installation, mission planning software and quick reaction capabilities. The program also aims to continue supporting emergent and/or experimental RDT&E efforts in support of Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) and Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) as a platform surrogate for risk reduction in support of SECAF's Operational Imperative-2.