F-16 with Sniper Pod Photo© Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin will supply Iraqi Airforce with Sniper targeting pod...
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| F-16 with Sniper Pod Photo© Lockheed Martin |
These pods will equip the 36 F-16 fighters Iraq has ordered in the last two years.
Iraq has also bought 40,000 rounds of 20mm autocannon ammo, 100 AIM-9L/M Sidewinder heat seeking air-to-air missiles, 150 AIM-7M/H Sparrow radar homing air-to-air missiles, and over 500 smart bombs, plus Sniper and LITENING targeting pods.
The Sniper pod provides long-range target detection/identification and continuous surveillance for all missions, including close air support of ground forces. Superior imagery, a video datalink and J-series weapons-quality coordinates enhance the warfighter’s ability to rapidly detect and analyze ground targets while keeping aircrews out of threat ranges.
The 200 kg (440 pound) Sniper pod hangs off a hard point, like a missile, bomb, or fuel tank. Backin 1990, the first targeting pods (the U.S. two pod LANTIRN system) were nearly ready for service. These first electronic targeting pods that looked like a thin bomb were hung under the wing of fighters and contained laser designators and night vision equipment. The LANTIRN got a workout in the 1991 Gulf War, even though the system was still undergoing testing. Israel soon followed with a cheaper, more reliable, and morecapable Litening system.
The Sniper pods are very popular with fighter and bomber pilots.
They are used on American F-15, F-16, A-10, and B-1 aircraft. These pods contain FLIR (video quality night vision infrared radar) and TV cameras that enable pilots flying at 6,200 meters (20,000 feet) to clearly make out what is going on down there. The pods also contain laser designators for laser guided bombs and laser range finders that enable pilots to get coordinates for JDAM (GPS guided) bombs.
The Sniper pod is the most widely deployed targeting system for fixed-wing aircraft in use bythe U.S. Air Force, and is the targeting system of choice for 12 international air forces.
