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Reconnaissance aircraft
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<p>A reconnaissance aircraft (colloquially, a spy plane) is a <a href="/facts/Military_aircraft/hG80LP2F">military aircraft</a> designed or adapted to perform <a href="/facts/Aerial_reconnaissance/xvWXgLKT">aerial reconnaissance</a> with roles including collection of <a href="/facts/Imagery_intelligence/pdNpFwgd">imagery intelligence</a> (including using <a href="/facts/Aerial_photography/Sp9D0crM">photography</a>), <a href="/facts/Signals_intelligence/Iwzvw6AW">signals intelligence</a>, as well as <a href="/facts/Measurement_and_signature_intelligence/atm8E2Ue">measurement and signature intelligence</a>. Modern technology has also enabled some aircraft and <a href="/facts/Unmanned_aerial_vehicle/qt87T19t">UAVs</a> to carry out real-time <a href="/facts/Surveillance/hJhvWdSJ">surveillance</a> in addition to general <a href="/facts/Military_intelligence/VQJypEMT">intelligence gathering</a>. </p><p>Before the development of devices such as <a href="/facts/Radar/jk9BTbFA">radar</a>, military forces relied on reconnaissance aircraft for visual <a href="/facts/Artillery_observer/K3EkPLL8">observation</a> and <a href="/facts/Reconnaissance/WbBwMhqs">scouting</a> of enemy movement. An example is the <a href="/facts/Consolidated_PBY_Catalina/ApInD8x6">PBY Catalina</a> <a href="/facts/Maritime_patrol_aircraft/BNXaRGVj">maritime patrol</a> <a href="/facts/Flying_boat/UmALvlKC">flying boat</a> used by the <a href="/facts/Allies_of_World_War_II/YzCdtjDY">Allies</a> in <a href="/facts/World_War_II/2efV5L1U">World War II</a>: a <a href="/facts/Formation_flying/RKqVQeN9">flight</a> of <a href="/facts/United_States_Navy/xYK0fUou">U.S. Navy</a> Catalinas spotted part of the Japanese fleet approaching Midway Island, beginning the <a href="/facts/Battle_of_Midway/f8gBT8Ax">Battle of Midway</a>. </p>