U.S. Air Force

Reconnaissance

The eyes of the Air Force. From U-2 Dragon Lady flights over the Soviet Union to MQ-9 Reaper orbits over Syria, Reconnaissance squadrons collect the intelligence that drives every decision in the battlespace.

See First, Understand First Est. 1942

RECON

ISR ENTERPRISE

Reconnaissance Squadrons

U-2 / RQ-4 / MQ-9 / RC-135

Reconnaissance squadrons operate the platforms that collect imagery, signals, and electronic intelligence across the globe. The U-2 Dragon Lady still flies at 70,000 feet. The RQ-4 Global Hawk provides persistent wide-area surveillance. The MQ-9 Reaper delivers both ISR and precision strike. The RC-135 Rivet Joint collects signals intelligence along the borders of adversary nations. Reconnaissance has evolved from film cameras to real-time digital downlinks, but the mission is unchanged. See what the enemy is doing before they do it. Read more

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Cold War Overflights to Persistent ISR 1947 - Present

U-2 / SR-71

SKUNK WORKS

U-2 and SR-71

The Cold War Black Jets

The U-2 began overflying the Soviet Union in 1956, photographing military installations from 70,000 feet. Francis Gary Powers was shot down in 1960, ending direct overflights, but the U-2 continued flying peripheral missions and provided the photography that identified Soviet missiles in Cuba. The SR-71 Blackbird flew faster than Mach 3 and higher than 85,000 feet. No SR-71 was ever shot down. Both programs were Lockheed Skunk Works creations. The 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale AFB operated both aircraft. Read more

The Persistent Hunter-Killer

The MQ-9 Reaper transformed reconnaissance from collection to action. It orbits for over 24 hours, watches targets with multiple sensor pods, and strikes with Hellfire missiles or GBU-38 JDAMs when authorized. Pilots and sensor operators at Creech AFB and other stateside locations fly combat missions via satellite link. The Reaper was the primary ISR and strike platform for the counterterrorism mission. More enemy leaders were killed by Reapers than any other single weapons system in the GWOT. Read more

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U-2

Dragon Lady

MQ-9

Reaper

9th RW

Beale AFB

ISR

Persistent Overwatch