The TR-X Unveiled At Air Force Association Annual Meeting

The engineers at Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works are still working out the details, but at the Air Force Association Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. this week, attendees got the first glimpse at a concept for an airplane that could replace the venerable U-2 spy plane.

Called the "TR-X", the plane reportedly will look a lot like the U-2, according to a report from Defense News. It will used the same GE F118 engine and carry a similar payload. Lockheed is looking into ways to increase power and cooling for advanced electronics.

Scott Winstead told reporters at the AFA conference that the plane would be able to communicate with the Defense Department's latest fighters and other aircraft through the Open Mission Systems Standard, and could possibly carry offensive and defensive laser weapons in the future.

While reporters got a look Monday, Lockheed has reportedly not yet pitched the airplane to the Pentagon.

The Air Force has plans to retire the U-2 in 2019, but Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Otto, deputy chief of staff of ISR, said in a separate news conference that the Air Force is not committing to a follow-on airplane just yet. He said the service does not have the resources to support two ISR platforms ... the U-2 and the Global Hawk UAV produced by Northrop Grumman ... and develop a new concept airplane. He said both platforms "have legs well into the late 20s," and could be flying into the 2040s before they are deemed unairworthy.

(Image provided by Lockheed Martin)

FMI: www.lockheedmartin.com