Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force, has achieved a significant milestone by completing the inaugural flight of the U-2 Dragon Lady's Avionics Tech Refresh (ATR) program.

This successful maiden flight served as a comprehensive test for the U-2's upgraded capabilities, which are integral to the ATR contract. These enhancements encompass:

An overhauled avionics suite, encompassing communication, navigation, display systems, and more, designed to modernize the U-2's onboard systems, facilitating seamless integration of cutting-edge technology.

A state-of-the-art mission computer conforming to the U.S. Air Force's open mission systems (OMS) standard, enabling the U-2 to interface with systems across air, space, sea, land, and cyber domains at various security levels.

Modern cockpit displays, designed to simplify pilot tasks and enhance the presentation of collected data, thereby enabling quicker, more informed decision-making.

During this mission, the U-2 aircraft executed a low-altitude functional check flight, incorporating new avionics, cabling, and software.

Sean Thatcher, Program Manager for the U-2 Avionics Tech Refresh at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, remarked, "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." He emphasized the utilization of the platform's open architecture to expedite essential capabilities for the evolving Joint All-Domain Operations battlespace.

This milestone flight underscores the U-2's ongoing modernization efforts, bringing it closer to becoming the first fully OMS-compliant fleet. Further testing will ensure the establishment of a mature software baseline before integrating mission systems, guaranteeing both functionality and interoperability to meet operational requirements.

The U-2 ATR contract, awarded by the U.S. Air Force in 2020 and valued at $50 million, represents a pivotal step in enhancing the U-2 Dragon Lady's capabilities for future missions.

Source:prnewswire.com