It may be facing retirement, but the U-2 Dragon Lady could still play a vital role watching over Ukraine, if a ceasefire can be agreed. The veteran high-flying spyplane is equipped with sensors and datalinks that could provide near real-time imagery to European peacekeepers. The UK, France and some other European NATO countries have said they are willing to send troops to Ukraine, on condition that the US provides logistics and air cover, which could include intelligence support.

The U-2 has regularly flown similar missions in the past. In 1970, it was sent to monitor a shaky ceasefire between Egypt and Israel, by flying down the Suez Canal. The operation became permanent a few years later. Imagery from the regular flights was shared between the two countries.

From 1991, the U-2 flew over Iraq for the United Nations (UN), supporting the international weapons inspectors who searched for signs that Saddam Hussein was developing weapons of mass destruction. It also monitored the “no-fly zones” that were established over northern and southern Iraq to prevent the Iraqi air force from attacking ethnic minorities opposed to the regime in Baghdad.  

From 1993, the U-2 flew over the Balkans to monitor Bosnian and Serbian compliance with the Dayton Peace Accords. In 1995, imagery taken by the aircraft confirmed the massacre of more than 8,000 civilians at Srebrenica by the Bosnian Serb Army.

Although satellites are providing most of the intelligence over Ukraine, the sensors on the U-2 have unique capabilities, such as high-resolution radar imaging that can ‘see’ through cloud cover. Because the aircraft has a 10-hour endurance, it can orbit constantly over the same territory to quickly detect any changes in the deployment of ground forces – unlike satellites.  

The US Air Force planned to end U-2 operations later this year. But a committee of the US Congress has prevented further actions to retire the 30-strong fleet, for the time being.