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)
Recent Russian and Chinese tests of space weapons are a "natural consequence of military behaviors," and the U.S. must now "mitigate this threat," the Space Force's operations chief said. “When you are behind, you look for ways to seek vulnerabilities of your adversary and your competitor so that you can…