{
  "id": "RL30727",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL30727",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
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      "id": 102017,
      "date": "2000-12-01",
      "retrieved": "2016-05-24T20:31:44.050941",
      "title": "Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR): The U-2 Aircraft and Global Hawk UAV Programs",
      "summary": "The ability to gather accurate and timely information on enemy forces is an essential enabler of\nmodern military operations. The growing use of precision guided munitions (PGMs) which can\ndestroy specific targets without extensive collateral damage depends upon the availability of precise\ninformation. No single platform or technology can satisfy the needs of the Department of Defense\n(DoD) for information at all times in all scenarios. However, airborne platforms will likely continue\nto satisfy a large portion of DoD's ISR requirements over the next several decades.\n  Among airborne ISR platforms, the U-2 Dragon Lady and the RQ-4A Global Hawk are\nespecially valuable. The U-2 stands out for its proven track record of providing vital near-real-time\nintelligence to military theater commanders in the 1991 war with Iraq (Operation Desert Storm), the\n1999 conflict in Kosovo (Operation Allied Force), and other conflict areas. \n  Global Hawk, a soon to be fielded unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), has been considered a\ncomplement to, and potentially a replacement for the U-2. While the un-proven Global Hawk\nappears to offer some advantages over the U-2 -- such as greater range and endurance, and not\nexposing a pilot to danger -- as currently designed it does not currently match the U-2's intelligence\ngathering capabilities. The Air Force is seeking to upgrade these designs so the second generation\nof Global Hawks would be more similar to U-2s in capability.\n  Both Congress and DoD face important decisions regarding current and future mix of U.S.\nairborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. An overarching line of inquiry\nis: Over the next 20 to 30 years, what mix of existing and planned manned and unmanned ISR\naircraft can most effectively satisfy DoD's requirement for timely and accurate information on\nenemy forces? \n  An important immediate issue to be resolved is how to best introduce Global Hawk platforms\ninto the U.S. ISR inventory and at what pace, relative to planned or unplanned U-2 attrition. Key\nconcerns are whether manned aircraft can be completely replaced by UAVs, the time that it will take\nto integrate the Global Hawks into the operating force structure, and the availability of adequate\nfunds to support the acquisition of Global Hawks without compromising vital operational\ncapabilities for an extended period.",
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    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc812871/",
      "id": "RL30727_2000Nov06",
      "date": "2000-11-06",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26",
      "title": "Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR): The U-2 Aircraft and Global Hawk UAV Programs",
      "summary": null,
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORT",
      "active": false,
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      "topics": []
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "National Defense"
  ]
}