The flight was conducted under the Avionics Tech Refresh (ATR) Program
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works has successfully completed the first flight of its high-altitude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft “U-2 Dragon Lady”, equipped with enhanced capabilities for the next-generation battlespace.
The flight, conducted in partnership with the US Air Force (USAF), was part of the Avionics Tech Refresh (ATR) Program. The tested new advanced capabilities aboard the “Dragon Lady” included an updated avionics suite (communications, navigation, display, and the like) that modernises the U-2’s onboard systems to accept and use new technology readily.
Another capability was a new mission computer designed to the USAF’s open mission systems (OMS) standard, enabling the U-2 to integrate with systems across air, space, sea, land and cyber domains at various security levels.
Also, new modern cockpit displays were tested to make pilot tasks easier while enhancing the presentation of the data the aircraft collects to enable faster, better-informed decisions.
During this mission, the aircraft successfully performed a low-altitude functional check flight to integrate new avionics, cabling and software.
“The successful first flight of the U-2 Avionics Tech Refresh is a significant moment in our journey to rapidly and affordably field new capabilities,” said Sean Thatcher, U-2 Avionics Tech Refresh programme manager at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. “Leveraging the platform’s open architecture, we’re expediting these capabilities needed for the future Joint All-Domain Operations battlespace.”
The ATR first flight marks a milestone in the U-2’s modernisation efforts and its path to be the first fully Open Mission System- (OMS) compliant fleet. Further testing will be performed to solidify a mature software baseline before mission systems are introduced to ensure functionality and interoperability to meet operational needs.
The U-2 ATR contract was awarded by the US Air Force in 2020 and valued at 47,4 million ($50 million).
