Back Avión de reconoixencia AN طائرة استطلاع Arabic Kəşfiyyat təyyarəsi Azerbaijani Разузнавателен самолет Bulgarian Avió de reconeixement Catalan فڕۆکەی سیخوڕی CKB Průzkumný letoun Czech Rekognosceringsfly Danish Aufklärungsflugzeug German Αναγνωριστικό αεροσκάφος Greek
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A reconnaissance aircraft (colloquially, a spy plane) is a military aircraft designed or adapted to perform aerial reconnaissance with roles including collection of imagery intelligence (including using photography), signals intelligence, as well as measurement and signature intelligence. Modern technology has also enabled some aircraft and UAVs to carry out real-time surveillance in addition to general intelligence gathering.
Before the development of devices such as radar, military forces relied on reconnaissance aircraft for visual observation and scouting of enemy movement. An example is the PBY Catalina maritime patrol flying boat used by the Allies in World War II: a flight of U.S. Navy Catalinas spotted part of the Japanese fleet approaching Midway Island, beginning the Battle of Midway.[1]
- ^ . "Scouting and Early Attacks from Midway, 3–4 June 1942". Archived April 13, 2010, at the Library of Congress Web Archives United States Naval Historical Center, 1999. Retrieved: 18 June 2010.