Surveillance Platforms

Manned Aircraft

U-2S SURVEILLANCE AND RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT
The U2's continuous day and night, high-altitude, all-weather surveillance is used in direct support of U.S. and allied ground and air forces.

RC-135 RIVET JOINT
Rivet Joint is a reconnaissance aircraft with near real time on-scene intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination capabilities.

 
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

RQ-IA PREDATOR
The RQ-1A Predator is a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle system used primarily for reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition in theater. Used mainly in moderate risk areas and places where air defenses have not been fully suppressed, open ocean environments, and areas thought or known to be biologically or chemically contaminated. Predator has been used extensively in fulfilling U.S. reconnaissance needs in Iraq and during Operation Allied Force in Kosovo.

RQ-4A GLOBAL HAWK
The newest and most advanced UAV in operation, Global Hawk is a high-altitude, high-endurance UAV with an integrated sensor system that provides intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. Its ability to operate at altitudes in excess of 60,000 feet for over thirty hours is unparalleled in reconnaissance aircraft. When considered with its high-tech 2,000 lb sensor payload, this autonomous UAV will be an integral part of Targeting and Precision Strike Support, Battle Damage Assessments, Enemy Order of Battle Information, Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield, and Sensitive Reconnaissance Operations.

RQ-2A PIONEER
Pioneer is the Navy's reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, and battle damage assessment UAV platform. With its low radar cross section and low infrared signature, it is an extremely versatile aircraft that provides real-time images of the battlefield or target. Pioneer has been used in Grenada, Lebanon, and Libya, and promises to be used in other situations that require on-call, inexpensive, unmanned, over-the-horizon targeting and reconnaissance capabilities- one reason it is currently configured for operations on five LPD class ships with a sixth ship under modifications.

 
Satellites

Military Reconnaissance Satellites (IMINT)

 

Christopher Hellman CDI Senior Analyst chellman@cdi.org Emily Clark

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