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This adds a bit to AW1Ed’s column of deploying assets on our southern flank.<\/p>\n
The Air Force is finding some love for assets many of you probably thought had gone away.<\/p>\n
U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin has confirmed that U-2 Dragon Lady spy planes have been flying missions around the border with Mexico.<\/p>\n
CNN<\/em> was first to report the use of U-2s in support of current operations along the southwestern border back in February, but citing unnamed officials. That story followed news that RC-135V\/Ws, as well as U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol planes, were also flying surveillance missions around Mexico, including sorties over the Gulf of California.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Dragon Ladies, Rivet Joints, Poseidons – these are some seriously capable…and old… platforms. I mean, the P-8A Poseidon is based on a – wait for it – 737. The RC-135? on a seven – OH -seven.\u00a0 Lotta you dickweeds (and maybe dickweedettes) may have never SEEN such a critter.\u00a0 And the U-2? Think 1955. Think Francis Gary Powers getting shot down in one in 1960. So at least two of the three predate that Kennedy assassination they are supposed to release all the files on Tuesday….(and as I write this at 1800 hrs…crickets.) To put it in modern terms – they been around since even before those two Boeing astronauts went up (well, not that much before. Welcome home to our 271 day wonders!)<\/p>\n
Some of you intel weenies are probably aware that the U2 has never gone out of service, and is a damn good platform for what it’s asked to do. We built GOOD in the ’50s.<\/p>\n
\nIn February, there were also reports that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was conducting surveillance flights inside Mexican airspace using MQ-9 Reaper drones. Authorities in Mexico subsequently confirmed that the U.S. government had been conducting aerial ISR operations inside the country, and that this had helped with the arrest of at least two senior cartel members.<\/p>\n
Just earlier this week, TWZ<\/em> reached out to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base in California, the Air Force\u2019s U-2 hub, for more information about the use of those aircraft specifically in support of current border security operations. Those queries were subsequently forwarded first to Air Combat Command (ACC) and then to NORTHCOM.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Not shockingly, the response from NORTHCOM basically said “no comment.” (they just took fourteen times as long.)<\/p>\n
\n\u201cAt this time, we are not commenting about any specific ISR platforms related to southern border missions,\u201d a NORTHCOM spokesperson told TWZ<\/em> on Wednesday. \u201cWe do acknowledge that there is ISR supporting the mission, but again, we are not going to be specific about platforms.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t discuss specifics on how we are using ISR assets to support DoD\u2019s mission at the southern border,\u201d the same spokesperson added today in response to a follow-up after Allvin made his post on X.\u00a0 The War Zone<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Imagine being on a smuggling boat and see a 7373 in the distance…no problemo. The U-2? So high nobody is gonna see it.<\/p>\n
Great use of our assets to get real-time info on the border. Keep it up!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"