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The Dragon Lady Meets the Challenge The U-2 in Desert Storm

Chapter 3 The U-2 and its Sensors

The U-2R is a single-place, high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft that flies above 65,000 feet. Although it is not air- refuelable, the U-2R can remain airborne for more than twelve hours. Missions normally do not exceed nine hours, however. As a Strategic Air Command (SAC) asset, the U-2 flew "strategic" reconnaissance missions to detect a military build-up or other unusual activity. The TR-1, which made its first appearance in 1981, was essentially the same aircraft as the U-2R. Designated tactical reconnaissance to differentiate it from the U-2 "spy plane" associated with Gary Powers, the TR-1 was assigned to the 17th Reconnaissance Wing at RAF Alconbury, United Kingdom. During Operation Desert Shield/Storm, 1704RS(P) personnel considered both aircraft as U-2s. Parts and pilots were interchangeable between the two. With the 17RW's impending closure and the TR-l's transfer to the 9th Wing, the TR-1 was redesignated U-2R in October 1991.*1 *In this monograph, I will use TR-1 to indicate aircraft stationed at Alconbury, but, in the narrative on Desert Shield/Storm, I will use U-2R for all aircraft.

Originally built in the 1950s "to be used for surveillance over 'denied areas' in Europe, Russia, and elsewhere," the U-2 endured because of its versatility and economy of operation. Although the U-2 inventory is small, sensors, not airframes, are often the limiting factor. In some cases only one or two items are available. For example, when Desert Shield began SENIOR SPAN, a one-of-a-kind prototype, deployed and flew operational missions. The limited number of most sensors makes it more economical to hire contract maintainers. Also, Lockheed technical representatives have continued to work closely with the Air Force as U-2 advisers and maintainers. With the limited sensor inventory, not all airframes have been modified to carry all sensors. One of the Lockheed contractors' greatest contributions was their knowledge of which airframe could carry which sensor. So when the U-2 deployed to Saudi Arabia for Desert Shield/Storm, civilian contractors naturally deployed with them.2

One of the first aircraft deployed to Taif carried the SENIOR YEAR Electro-optical Reconnaissance System (SYERS). The SYERS is a dual-band system that includes a near-real-time electro-optical imagery sensor and an infrared sensor, although the infrared sensor was not operational during Desert Storm. The SENIOR BLADE van on the ground controls the electro-optical sensor and receives, processes, exploits, and reports digital imagery collected to theater commanders and national authorities. SYERS "projects" a digital "picture," onto a computer screen in the ground station. If the sensor is in "line-of-sight" (about 220 miles) of the ground station, the aircraft is "on-tether" and relays the imagery continuously, near-real-time. If the aircraft is beyond the range of the ground station, the SYERS stores the information then relays it when the U-2 is again within range. Intelligence personnel in the SENIOR BLADE van identify objects from the imagery and pass on the coordinates and other data to theater commanders. SYERS near- real-time imagery allowed Desert Storm commanders dynamically to retask attack aircraft already in flight and then retask the U-2 to assess the battle damage. The system can produce a "hard-copy" image, but the process is slow and inefficient.3

The SENIOR BLADE van arrived in Saudi Arabia on 13 August 1990. Because of Taif's distance from Iraq, the BLADE van deployed to Riyadh to give the SYERS maximum time "on-tether" while patrolling along the Saudi-Iraqi border. After Desert Storm began and the U-2s crossed the border into Iraq, a second SENIOR BLADE van (dubbed Son-of-Blade) deployed to King Khalid Military City, Saudi Arabia nearer the border. This allowed the SYERS to cover nearly all of southern Iraq while remaining on-tether.4

The other electronic imagery system, the advanced synthetic aperture radar system II (ASARS-II), came to the desert with the TR-ls from Alconbury. Like the SYERS, the ASARS can relay imagery near-real-time to a ground station while on-tether. Tether range for the ASARS is approximately the same as the SYERS. Unlike the SYERS and the cameras, the ASARS can "see through" clouds, smoke, or darkness. The ASARS, therefore, is especially effective at night or during inclement weather. Since the system provided tactical reconnaissance for the Army in Europe, the Army's tactical radar correlator (TRAC) van deployed with the TR-ls. The TRAC van set up in the same compound in Riyadh as the SENIOR BLADE van. Neither the TRAC nor SENIOR BLADE vans had completed operational evaluation and testing when it deployed to Saudi Arabia.5

Although the U-2 primarily used SYERS and ASARS sensors during Desert Shield/Storm, the aircraft also flew several camera missions with the HR-329 (H-cam) and the intelligence reconnaissance imagery system III (IRIS-III)- The H-cam uses a high resolution, gyro- stabilized framing system with a 66-inch focal length and folded optical path. Traditionally, the H-cam operates at an angle to provide greater coverage. During Desert Storm, planners experimented with the camera aimed straight down. The detail and clarity impressed planners and amazed theater commanders. Commanders were disappointed, however. that the system could not cover a greater range and still maintain the same detail and clarity. Although the H-cam imagery is especially useful for targeting, battle damage and order-of-battle assessment, targets must be preselected and the technicians must process the film after the aircraft lands.6.

The IRIS-III is an optical imagery system that uses a high resolution, panoramic camera with a 24-inch focal length. Employing a folded optical path system mounted on a rotating optical bar assembly, the IRIS-III laterally scans through 140 degrees of the total viewing area. This camera covers a 32-nautical-mile swath on both sides of the aircraft. The IRIS-III provides wider "synoptic" coverage than the H-cam, but it does not have the resolution or NIIRS quality. Like the H-cam, the IRIS-III imagery gives the theater commanders excellent targeting, battle damage and order-of-battle assessment .7

In December the 9th Wing moved the mobile intelligence processing element (MIPE), a deployable ground station with 15 environmentally controlled vans and organic transportation and support equipment, to Riyadh. Originally designed for the SR-71 program, the MIPE lost its funding when the SR-71 retired. When Desert Shield began, the MIPE was in storage at Beale AFB. The 9th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron (9RTS) kept the system from falling into disrepair, but lacked the funds to properly maintain it. In September and October 1990, the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Air Force Intelligence Directorate asked if the MIPE could deploy to Southwest Asia. After assessing the MIPE, squadron officials explained that the system would need at least 14 days of contract maintenance before it could be operational. Eventually the Air Force Logistics Command authorized Houston Fearless Corporation to complete the needed maintenance, but only allowed six days before deployment on 19 December 1990. Working around the clock, 9RTS and contractor personnel completed the work and loaded the MIPE aboard C-5s on 19 December. The MIPE deployed to the Joint Imagery Processing Complex in Riyadh. The first U-2 IRIS-III mission was on 31 December and MIPE personnel processed the film on 1 January 1991.8  

Notes Chapter 3

l.Intvw (S/NF), Dr C.F. Cross, 9RW/HO, with Maj S.A. Lundell, ~ 9LSS/CC, 1 Nov 94, info used (U), per SAF/PAS security review 95- 1070.

2.Intvw (S/NF), Dr C.F. Cross, 9RW/HO, with Mr. F.M. Carmody, ADP Tech Rep, 11 Mar 94, info used (U), per SAF/PAS security review 95-1070; Jay Miller, Lockheed's Skunk Works: The First Fifty Years (Arlington TX: Aerofax, Inc. 1993), 77.

3.Draft reg (S), ACC, "U-2 and RC-135 Global Reconnaissance Operations (U)," 15 Mar 93; intvw (S/NF), Dr C.F. Cross, 9RW/HO, with Col G.A. Lafferty, BOG/CC, 25 Oct 94, info used (U), per SAF/PAS security review 95-1070.

4.Intvw (S/NF), Dr C.F. Cross, 9RW/HO, with Lt. Col D. Wright, IRS/CC, 7 Nov 94; draft reg (S), ACC, "U-2 and RC-135 Global Reconnaissance Operations (U)," 15 Mar 93; intvw (S/NF), Cross with Col Lafferty, info used (U), per SAF/PAS security review 95- 1070.

5.Intvw (S/NF), Cross with Lt. Col Wright; draft reg (S), ACC, "U- 2 and RC-135 Global Reconnaissance Operations (U)," 15 Mar 93; intvw (S/NF), Cross with Col Lafferty, info used (U) per SAF/PAS security review 95-1070.

6.Ibid.

7.Ibid.

8.Draft reg (S), ACC, "U-2 and RC-135 Global Reconnaissance Operations (U)," 15 Mar 93-; intvw (S/NF), Cross with Col Lafferty; rpt (S/NF/WNINTL), 9RTS, "9th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron, 1700th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron Provisional, Desert Shield/Storm After Action Report (U)," 25 Mar 91, info used (U), per SAF/PAS security review 95-1070.

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The Dragon Lady Meets the Challenge The U-2 in Desert Storm