Message posted by randpatt on January 09, 2008 at 14:47:07 PST:

According to some reports included in the federal budget in the early to mid 90s, all indications are that the "Aurora" program was canceled sometime during that period. This is due to the fact that like 2.5 billion dollars was allocated for "Aurora" in the beginning, and the funding "disappeared" around this time. Alot of the weird contrails and sonic booms also stopped around that time. This period also coincides with the time UAV programs such as Global Hawk were in development (and probably being used operationally in the black). So if I had to bet the farm I'd say the recon work is handled now by a UAV/U-2/satellite combination. The U-2 is slated for retirement by 2011, and thats about the time Beale AFB will have their full compliment of Global Hawks. Just my 2 cents. ;)

In Reply to: Has anyone here actually seen anything new? posted by Roadeye on January 09, 2008 at 13:04:07 PST:

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