Lockheed Martin has received a $13 million contract from the Air Force to upgrade approximately 200 Sniper targeting pods with a more-capable digital data link. Called the Compact Multi-band Data Link, this upgrade will enable digital transmission of high-definition imagery and metadata between aircrews and ground troops at extended ranges, said company officials during a Sept. 10 telecon. Sniper was designed as a target designator for air-dropped munitions, but pilots have applied its sophisticated imaging capability in Afghanistan and Iraq to support roles like convoy escort and making reconnaissance sweeps. “For a pod designed to go out and destroy enemy air defenses, it has some great capabilities for non-traditional [intelligence, surveillance-reconnaissance],” said Brig. Gen. Scott Williams, commander of the South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing, during the telecon. His F-16 unit carries Sniper, as do other USAF A-10Cs, B-1s, F-15Es, and F-16s. (Lockheed Martin press release)
The House of Representatives likely won’t get the 2021 defense policy bill on to the floor for a vote until as late as July, as the Biden administration has not yet released its proposed budget and is making a major infrastructure bill its main priority, a key lawmaker said May…