[CommerceComet]

What do they have now that is faster?

I'm sure that with modern engineering, a faster plane could be developed but for what purpose? Satellites can do the job better than a plane can.

[OftheOhio]

Because we’re Americans, that’s why. Streaking across the sky like a meteor just said...Victory.

[mylife]

We still use U2s because satellites can not linger.

[Ancesthntr]

“I’m sure that with modern engineering, a faster plane could be developed but for what purpose? Satellites can do the job better than a plane can.”

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Planes can be re-routed a whole lot easier than satellites. Heck, you can tell a guy “make a 2nd pass, we need closer focus on X” and he’ll do it right away - that satellite may take a good while longer.

Besides, satellites fly regular, completely predictable, orbits. Planes do not - so there is the element of surprise (particularly at high Mach values).

The simple truth is that both have their advantages and disadvantages, and that is exactly why we need both. Just like the nuclear triad.