If U can't beat them, join them - Lockheed Martin Unmanned U-2 Concept

The U-2 Dragon Lady · Lockheed Martin

Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Global Hawk

Write off the legendary U.S. reconnaissance planes U-2

payload sensors main reason to keep U-2, but man limits its endurance

Lockheed Updates Unmanned U-2 Concept | Defense content from Aviation Week

Lockheed Martin has crafted a reduced-cost plan to “optionally man” its U-2, throwing a new possibility into the mix as Congress weighs whether to shift to an all-Northrop  Grumman Global Hawk unmanned aircraft fleet for high-altitude reconnaissance. With an optionally manned U-2, advocates for the so-called Dragon Lady say the venerable aircraft finally can match the endurance offered by the RQ-4B Global Hawk. Convincing lawmakers and the Pentagon likely will be an uphill battle, though.

Scrapping U-2 for Global Hawk will save less than touted | Defense News |Apr 1, 2014

The Air Force’s plan to retire all of its U-2 spy planes and replace them with Global  Hawk UAVs won’t save as much money as first promised, since the unmanned systems  will need upgrades to handle the mission, according to experts and service data.To upgrade Northrop Grumman’s Block 30 Global Hawk, the Air Force intends to invest  “about $1.77 billion” over the next 10 years, said Maj. Gen. James Jones, deputy chief of  staff for operations, plans and requirements. About $500 million of that is marked for a universal payload adapter that would allow U-2 sensors to be attached to the RQ-4 Global Hawk.

AF drops plan to improve sensors on newest Global Hawks -Nov 20, 2013

The Block 30’s sensor suite is not as capable as the U-2, and Global Hawk builder  Northrop Grumman has been designing an adapter to attach the superior system to the  unmanned aircraft. The Air Force, however, does not intend to use the adapter, said Maj.  Ryan Simms, the chief of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and remotely  pilot aircraft policy in the headquarters Air Force executive action group.