17 September 2019: Collins Aerospace Systems has been chosen by the US Air Force (USAF) to upgrade its fleet of U-2 Dragon Lady aircraft with HF-9087D High Frequency (HF) radios. With a primary mission of reconnaissance, the U-2 will receive the ability to securely transfer Command and Control (C2) data in real-time over HF while still maintaining reliable, clear voice communications beyond line of sight.
"In contested environments, HF communications continue to be a reliable backbone to ensure mission success with a low operating cost," said Troy Brunk, Vice President and General Manager, Communication, Navigation and Guidance Solutions for Collins Aerospace. "The U-2's upgraded HF will provide robust long-range digital communications capabilities to this platform."