The U-2 spy plane, one of the most emblematic aircraft of the Cold War, should return to Europe to conduct surveillance on a resurgent and aggressive Russia, a top American general has warned, British newspaper The Independent reported.
General Philip Breedlove, the head of U.S. forces in Europe and NATO`s supreme allied commander, said the iconic jet was among ”additional intelligence collection platforms” needed to effectively counter an increased threat posed by Moscow, according to The Independent.
The officer said Russia poses a ”long-term existential threat” to the United States.
With sensors that can spot a landmine from a height of 13 miles and scoop up vast amounts of communications data, the U-2 would prove a potent tool in monitoring any build-up or sudden movement of Russian forces on the border of the Baltic states or the Ukraine, according to the report.
