The 5 Highest Altitude Reconnaissance Aircraft Currently Operated By The United States

The United States Air Force continues to operate an incredibly diverse fleet of reconnaissance aircraft, but only a handful actually combine true intelligence-gathering capabilities with the ability to climb into the thin air where coverage, survivability, and sensor reach materially improve. At the very top sits the Lockheed U-2, which is still routinely flying at altitudes exceeding 70,000 feet (21,000 meters). This is a reminder that one of America’s oldest spy planes remains its highest-flying today.