The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance; The U-2 and OXCART Programs, 1954-1974

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Chapter 5
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U-2C and U-2R
The U-2R used the upgraded Pratt & Whitney J75/P- l 3B erngine
and was able to fly higher-in excess of 74,000 feet-and faster­
Mach 0.72 (410 knots). which is 12 knots faster than the U-2C. When
flying at the higher altitude. however. the U-2R·s range was less than
the U-2Cs. T he restart capability of the P-13B engine was signifi­
cantly better than the P- l 3A power plant As a result. the U-2R could
be restarted at 54.000 feet. which was I 0.000 feet higher tham the
U-2C. Francis Gary Powers was one of the Lockheed test pilots who
checked out this new aircraft when it first took to the air on 28 Auigust
1967. The last of the U-2Rs was delivered on 11 December 1968.
The increa:-;ed performance of the U-2R did not come cheaply.
At $7. 1 million per aircraft. the new models cost almost 10 times as
much as the original U-2s. Much of the increased cost was dUte to
inflation. but some was the result of technological advances. The ini­
tial order for eight of the new version of the U-2 was followed on 23
November 1966 by an order from the DCI and the Secretary of
Defense for four more. This brought the total number of U-2Rs pur­
chased by the CIA and the Air Force to 12.n
In addition to a new aircraft. the U-2 program received a new
camera. Agency managers felt that. because the B camera was now I0
years old. the U-2R needed a camera that incorporated the many im­
portant advances that had occurred in recent years. The 112B--the
modified version of the satellite program ·s stereo camera that had
been used in the U-2G-had not proved totally successful. Despite its
stereo capability. this camera's shorter focal length could not provide
'' OSr\ ffistory. c.:hap. 5. pp. 34-36 (TS Co(kword): "OSA Hiswry-2."' c.:hap. 5. pp. 1-2
(TS Codcwon.l).
SeeFat