ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Surveillance aircraft

Surveillance aircraft are special planes that are used to help people keep an eye on things from high up in the sky. Do you remember when you went on a plane and looked out the window at how small everything looked down below? That's because the higher up you are, the more you can see.

These planes are equipped with special cameras, sensors, and other tools that help people on the ground see things they can't normally see. For example, if there's a forest fire, a surveillance plane can fly over it and take pictures with a special camera that can see through smoke. That way, firefighters on the ground can see where the fire is spreading and figure out how to put it out.

Surveillance planes can also help keep people safe. They can fly over large crowds of people and watch for any signs of danger, or they can patrol the ocean and look for boats that are in trouble.

Sometimes, surveillance planes are used by the military to gather information about other countries. They can fly over enemy territory and take pictures of important things like military bases, weapons, and troop movements. This helps the military leaders make important decisions to keep their country safe.

Overall, surveillance aircraft are like giant eyes in the sky that help us see and understand things that we can't normally see from the ground.