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No More Than 8 U-2 Retirements Allowed in FY 2026, House Appropriators Say

Frank Wolfe

Monday, June 9th, 2025

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No More Than 8 U-2 Retirements Allowed in FY 2026, House Appropriators Say

U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Allvin shakes the hand of a 9th Operations Support Squadron survival evasion resistance and escape specialist during a visit to Beale AFB, Calif. on May 28 (U.S. Air Force Photo)

By next year, the U.S. Air Force has wanted to retire its U-2 Dragon Lady surveillance aircraft by Lockheed Martin [LMT], yet the House Appropriations Committee's defense panel wants to stave that plan off. "None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this act may be used to divest or prepare to divest more than eight U-2 aircraft," according to Section 8151 of the subcommittee's fiscal 2026 defense bill. The National Reconnaissance Office and the U.S. Space Force…

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