page_title: United States Air Force
section_title: R – Reconnaissance
hierarchical_section_title: United States Air Force / Aircraft inventory / R – Reconnaissance
caption_attribution_description: English: Original illustration by me using 3d applications and basic photogrammetry techniques from the only four, (primarily two), low-resolution photographs publicly available at time of completion. Created to illustrate the RQ-170 Sentinel article in the English Wikipedia. The article image is in PNG format rather than SVG because it is a 3D-rendering, not vector-based artwork. Applications used: 3d Studio MAX; Bryce 3D; Corel PhotoPaint; IrfanView. The following is an image link to show how my model lines up with a lesser known photo of the RQ-170. (shown "back-to-back") http://imgur.com/3pDcr.jpg [NEW: http://imgur.com/zKtKO.png ] The model with the other photo, the one from Liberation's blog... http://imgur.com/H1M81.jpg [NEW: http://imgur.com/avsZa.png ] Photo #3 source http://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=287&amp;t=3667 Photo #2 source http://secretdefense.blogs.liberation.fr/defense/2009/12/lus-air-force-d%C3%A9voile-son-drone-secret-cest-un-rq-170-sentinel-.html UPDATE January 14, 2010: New photo, resulted in modification of this file, published in February 2010 issue of Combat Aircraft Monthly (UK) http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?172150-RQ-170-Clear-Daylight-Photo When magazine and its photo series are available, will update further. UPDATE March 6, 2010: Model &amp; rendering updated per series of new photographs published in the February 2010 Combat Aircraft Monthly (UK). Notably, stealth point of intake top surface was not there as expected. Control surfaces have been added. Instrument ports are just visible behind nose-gear. Top surfaces of inner wing and fuselage are higher...etc. UPDATE January 28, 2012: Model updated per new photographs and video stills from Iranian state media. Central fuselage hump lowered. Jet engine intake reshaped and grill added. Wing "humps" reshaped... For more see "Comment" below.
context_page_description: The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services. Initially formed as a part of the United States Army on 1 August 1907, the USAF was established as a separate branch of the U.S. Armed Forces on 18 September 1947 with the passing of the National Security Act of 1947. It is the second youngest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the fourth in order of precedence. The U.S. Air Force articulates its core missions as air superiority, global integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, rapid global mobility, global strike, and command and control.
  The U.S. Air Force is a military service branch organized within the Department of the Air Force, one of the three military departments of the Department of Defense. The Air Force, through the Department of the Air Force, is headed by the civilian Secretary of the Air Force, who reports to the Secretary of Defense, and is appointed by the President with Senate confirmation.
context_section_description: The reconnaissance aircraft of the USAF are used for monitoring enemy activity, originally carrying no armament. Although the U-2 is designated as a "utility" aircraft, it is a reconnaissance platform. The roles of the aircraft vary greatly among the different variants to include general monitoring (RC-26B), ballistic missile monitoring (RC-135S), electronic intelligence gathering (RC-135U), signal intelligence gathering (RC-135V/W), and high altitude surveillance (U-2)
  Several unmanned remotely controlled reconnaissance aircraft (RPAs), have been developed and deployed. Recently, the RPAs have been seen to offer the possibility of cheaper, more capable fighting machines that can be used without risk to aircrews.
  RC-26B
  RC-135S Cobra Ball
  RC-135U Combat Sent
  RC-135V and RC-135W Rivet Joint
  RQ-4B Global Hawk
  RQ-11 Raven
  RQ-170 Sentinel
  U-2S "Dragon Lady"
caption: RQ-170 Sentinel stealth unmanned aerial vehicle reconnaissance aircraft
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