USAF U-2 "Dragon lady" Planes Field Updated EO Sensors

The latest variant of Senior Year Electro-Optical Reconnaissance System (SYERS) sensor, the SYERS-2C, has been fitted on US Air Force's fleet of U-2 ultra-high altitude reconnaissance aircraft.

"The US Air Force, Collins Aerospace Systems, a unit of United Technologies, and Lockheed Martin Skunk Works recently completed flight testing and deployment of the latest variant of the Collins Aerospace Senior Year Electro-Optical Reconnaissance System (SYERS) sensor, SYERS-2C, on the U-2," Lockheed Martin said in a statement Tuesday.

The entire U-2 fleet has been upgraded to the premier electro-optical/infrared sensor capability which provides increased optical performance and highly accurate long-range tracking for superior threat detection in a wider range of weather conditions.

The 10-band, high spatial resolution SYERS-2C sensor provides the ability to find, track and assess moving and stationary targets. It has been developed with open mission systems standards to enable command, control and data exchange with fifth generation platforms.

The single-jet engine "Dragon Lady" aircraft provides day and night, high-altitude (21,000 metre) intelligence gathering.