US deploys historic U‑2 spy plane amid Ukraine conflict and GPS interference in Baltics

The intensification of patrol flights and surveillance of Russian movements have become vital in ensuring the security of NATO countries. In light of this, Americans have decided to deploy their emblematic spy plane, the U-2 Dragon Lady. The aircraft was spotted over Denmark on January 5. Its operations primarily concentrate on the eastern regions of the Baltic Sea and surveillance of Kaliningrad, Russia, Finland, and Belarus territories.

As reported in the media, the US intends to gather information about Russian activities aimed at disrupting the communication lines of NATO and other Baltic countries. The Lockheed U-2 plane is ideally suited for such intelligence operations as it has been designed to handle the most rigorous tasks since the Cold War era. It was most recently launched in December of the previous year when it was sighted over Poland, and it was once again observed over Denmark at the start of January.

The aircraft's unique design includes fixed containers for radar and photographic equipment, allowing the surveillance of objects located up to 298 miles from the side of the plane. Owing to this, the jet can effectively gather data from expansive and hard-to-reach areas. The aircraft can effortlessly ascend to a height of 88,583 feet above the Earth's surface and can carry out daily and night surveillance. The images captured by several cameras are transmitted to the command center in real-time.

The US is currently working on a successor to the U-2. Nevertheless, these aircraft were recently modernized to accommodate contemporary detection methods better. The upgrades include communication, navigation, imaging systems, new cockpit gear, and a new mission computer compatible with the new OMS (Open Mission Systems) standard being implemented in the US armed forces.