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Reconnaissance aircraft

A reconnaissance aircraft (colloquially, a spy plane) is a military aircraft designed or adapted to perform aerial reconnaissance with roles including collection of imagery intelligence (including using photography), signals intelligence, as well as measurement and signature intelligence. Modern technology has also enabled some aircraft and UAVs to carry out real-time surveillance in addition to general intelligence gathering.

A USAF SR-71 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft

Before the development of devices such as radar, military forces relied on reconnaissance aircraft for visual observation and scouting of enemy movement. An example is the PBY Catalina maritime patrol flying boat used by the Allies in World War II: a flight of U.S. Navy Catalinas spotted part of the Japanese fleet approaching Midway Island, beginning the Battle of Midway.[1]

History

 
USAF's RC-135U Combat Sent reconnaissance (ELINT) aircraft

Prior to the 20th century machines for powered and controllable flight were not available to military forces, but some attempts were made to use lighter than air craft. During the Napoleonic Wars and Franco-Prussian War, balloons were used for aerial reconnaissance by the French.[2]

In World War I, aircraft were deployed during early phases of battle in reconnaissance roles as 'eyes of the army' to aid ground forces.[2] Aerial reconnaissance from this time through 1945 was mostly carried out by adapted versions of standard fighters and bombers equipped with film cameras.[3] Photography became the primary and best-known method of intelligence collection for reconnaissance aircraft by the end of World War II.

World War I also saw use of floatplanes to locate enemy warships. After the battle of Jutland demonstrated the limitations of seaplane tenders, provisions were made for capital ships to carry, launch, and recover observation seaplanes. These seaplanes could scout for enemy warships beyond the visual range of the ship's lookouts, and could spot the fall of shot during long range artillery engagements. Observation seaplanes were replaced by helicopters after World War II.[4]

After World War II and during the Cold War the United States developed several dedicated reconnaissance aircraft designs, including the U-2 and SR-71, to monitor the nuclear arsenal of the Soviet Union.[5] Other types of reconnaissance aircraft were built for specialized roles in signals intelligence and electronic monitoring, such as the RB-47, RB-57, Boeing RC-135 and the Ryan Model 147 drones.

Since the Cold War much of the strategic reconnaissance aircraft role has passed over to satellites,[6] and the tactical role to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This has been proven in successful uses by Israel, and by the United States in Desert Storm operations.[7]

See also

 
ScanEagle reconnaissance UAV on its catapult launcher

References

  1. ^ . "Scouting and Early Attacks from Midway, 3–4 June 1942". Archived April 13, 2010, at the Library of Congress Web Archives United States Naval Historical Center, 1999. Retrieved: 18 June 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Air Power:Aerial Reconnaissance in World War I". centennialofflight.net. Archived from the original on 18 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  3. ^ "During World War II, "F-Planes" Weren't Fighters - Defense Media Network". defensemedianetwork.com. from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  4. ^ Stinson, Patrick (1986). "Eyes of the Battle Fleet". Proceedings. United States Naval Institute. Supplement (April): 87–89.
  5. ^ "Air Power:Aerospace Power and the Cold War". www.centennialofflight.net. from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  6. ^ "Satelite.Com Spy Satellites". satelite.com. from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  7. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-04-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links

  Media related to Reconnaissance aircraft at Wikimedia Commons

  • spyflight
  • "A Tale of Two Airplanes" by Kingdon R. "King" Hawes, Lt Col, USAF (Ret.)
  • Bonnier Corporation (January 1919). "Popular Science". The Popular Science Monthly. Bonnier Corporation: 18–. ISSN 0161-7370.
  • Army-Lockheed YO-3A "Quiet Star" - Official History


reconnaissance, aircraft, compare, surveillance, aircraft, which, sometimes, separate, models, reconnaissance, aircraft, colloquially, plane, military, aircraft, designed, adapted, perform, aerial, reconnaissance, with, roles, including, collection, imagery, i. Compare surveillance aircraft which are sometimes separate models A reconnaissance aircraft colloquially a spy plane is a military aircraft designed or adapted to perform aerial reconnaissance with roles including collection of imagery intelligence including using photography signals intelligence as well as measurement and signature intelligence Modern technology has also enabled some aircraft and UAVs to carry out real time surveillance in addition to general intelligence gathering A USAF SR 71 high altitude reconnaissance aircraft Before the development of devices such as radar military forces relied on reconnaissance aircraft for visual observation and scouting of enemy movement An example is the PBY Catalina maritime patrol flying boat used by the Allies in World War II a flight of U S Navy Catalinas spotted part of the Japanese fleet approaching Midway Island beginning the Battle of Midway 1 Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditMain article Aerial reconnaissance History USAF s RC 135U Combat Sent reconnaissance ELINT aircraft Prior to the 20th century machines for powered and controllable flight were not available to military forces but some attempts were made to use lighter than air craft During the Napoleonic Wars and Franco Prussian War balloons were used for aerial reconnaissance by the French 2 In World War I aircraft were deployed during early phases of battle in reconnaissance roles as eyes of the army to aid ground forces 2 Aerial reconnaissance from this time through 1945 was mostly carried out by adapted versions of standard fighters and bombers equipped with film cameras 3 Photography became the primary and best known method of intelligence collection for reconnaissance aircraft by the end of World War II World War I also saw use of floatplanes to locate enemy warships After the battle of Jutland demonstrated the limitations of seaplane tenders provisions were made for capital ships to carry launch and recover observation seaplanes These seaplanes could scout for enemy warships beyond the visual range of the ship s lookouts and could spot the fall of shot during long range artillery engagements Observation seaplanes were replaced by helicopters after World War II 4 After World War II and during the Cold War the United States developed several dedicated reconnaissance aircraft designs including the U 2 and SR 71 to monitor the nuclear arsenal of the Soviet Union 5 Other types of reconnaissance aircraft were built for specialized roles in signals intelligence and electronic monitoring such as the RB 47 RB 57 Boeing RC 135 and the Ryan Model 147 drones Since the Cold War much of the strategic reconnaissance aircraft role has passed over to satellites 6 and the tactical role to unmanned aerial vehicles UAVs This has been proven in successful uses by Israel and by the United States in Desert Storm operations 7 See also Edit ScanEagle reconnaissance UAV on its catapult launcher Aerial reconnaissance Surveillance aircraft List of United States Air Force reconnaissance aircraft Maritime patrol aircraft Observation seaplaneReferences Edit Scouting and Early Attacks from Midway 3 4 June 1942 Archived April 13 2010 at the Library of Congress Web Archives United States Naval Historical Center 1999 Retrieved 18 June 2010 a b Air Power Aerial Reconnaissance in World War I centennialofflight net Archived from the original on 18 March 2018 Retrieved 16 March 2018 During World War II F Planes Weren t Fighters Defense Media Network defensemedianetwork com Archived from the original on 17 March 2018 Retrieved 16 March 2018 Stinson Patrick 1986 Eyes of the Battle Fleet Proceedings United States Naval Institute Supplement April 87 89 Air Power Aerospace Power and the Cold War www centennialofflight net Archived from the original on 10 October 2017 Retrieved 16 March 2018 Satelite Com Spy Satellites satelite com Archived from the original on 17 March 2018 Retrieved 16 March 2018 Archived copy PDF Archived PDF from the original on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2015 04 04 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link External links Edit Media related to Reconnaissance aircraft at Wikimedia Commons spyflight A Tale of Two Airplanes by Kingdon R King Hawes Lt Col USAF Ret Bonnier Corporation January 1919 Popular Science The Popular Science Monthly Bonnier Corporation 18 ISSN 0161 7370 Army Lockheed YO 3A Quiet Star Official History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Reconnaissance aircraft amp oldid 1134663342, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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