Posted on 12/20/2009 11:22:55 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Testing of the Lockheed Martin Sniper Targeting Pod on board the B-1B Lancer bomber has been accelerated in recent and is nearly completed, leading to the Air Force's Air Combat Command plans to approve sending pod-equipped bombers on operational missions by mid-summer. Because the sniper pod is a desperately needed capability in theater, Edwards Global Power Bomber Combined Test Force and the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, combined the operational and developmental testing of a B-1B Lancer to accelerate the integration of the sniper targeting pod with the B-1B bomber. "Everyone at the here has been incredibly focused on getting this done," said Lt. Col. Troy Asher, Global Power Bomber Combined Test Force director and 419th Flight Test Squadron commander. "In the span of about two weeks, [we have accomplished what] was originally planned for two months." said Col. Asher.
For more than four years, the B-1 has been the workhorse of the weapons delivery both in Iraq and in Afghanistan, Colonel Asher said. "A lot of times, we are not allowed to drop on targets because we are not exactly sure we wouldn't hit friendlies, or we might hit something we are not supposed to hit," he said. "The targeting pod is probably one of the most significant upgrades to the B-1," said Capt. Brandon Miller, B-1 flight commander and 419th Flight Test Squadron targeting pod project pilot. "This is significantly going to decrease the time from a request for a bomb on a target, to actually dropping a weapon, creating the desired lethal effects and then being able to assess and re-attack if necessary."
(Excerpt) Read more at defense-update.com ...
yitbos
As a once cool actor once said “It’s time to bring painless out da bag”
yitbos
Ronald Reagan would attest to their Arab terrorist killing power.
yitbos
The B-1 is probably the best bomber out there today.
Yes he would. The other distractions would have been protected. Obama is an idiot.
Thank You CIC Ronald Reagan.
Thanks for the post!
No Problem
:)
I was not aware that F-111’s were still operational.
Thank You for the head’s-up.
I always thought that it was a beautiful aircraft.
I’m sure Mo-Mo Ghaddafi(?) might not agree, though.
I had to wait 30min in my POV for that bastard to come across a 350ft line they gave me. I am so mad I couldn’t have a camera. It was very impressive and it was practice for sure. God Bless our Military!
The plane is very impressive and you have to thank Bob Dornan and Ronald Reagan for pushing the development of this technological wonder.
Cool tech
And so advanced even the Pakis use it.
The Lockheed Martin Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) provides positive target identification, autonomous tracking, coordinate generation, and precise weapons guidance from extended standoff ranges. The Sniper ATP is used on the F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, B-1 (Rod Pod), UK Harrier GR9,.[1] and Canadian CF-18 Hornet. [2] The Sniper ATP is in service with Norway, Oman, Poland, Singapore, Canada, Belgium, Saudi Arabia[3] and the UK MoD.[4][5] In July 2007, Sniper ATP was acquired by Pakistan, making it the tenth country in the world to be in possession of the Sniper pod.[6] The Sniper ATP contains a laser designator and tracker for guiding laser-guided bombs. The pod also features a third-generation FLIR receiver and a CCD television camera. FLIR allows observation and tracking in low light / no light situations, while the CCD camera allows the same functions during day time operations.
I had never seen a B-1 at 300ft. I Stepped out and got a dip.
The F-111 is still around but mostly for training purposes in the Air Combat Command.
I’m one of those guys that played the game. I moved onto much more but I am quite disgusted at what must be protected now. We are in charge.
Australia is acquiring 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets to aid the transition to a mature Joint Strike Fighter capability, and allow Air Force to retire the F-111 fleet in December 2010. yitbos
To put it simply, If America doesn’t defend herself we are not giving the kids a chance to kick ass and grow in the way we got it. Our method started early.
I agree
I saw a low fly-by of a B-1 at the Reno Air races, beautiful graceful and deadly looking.
Forget planes and bombs - bring in the artillery!
Got you beat. Saw a B-1 upclose at the Andrews Air Force base exhibit one year and watched it take off. Went from horizontal to 45* angle in a matter of seconds. WHISH. A great sight.
Also saw B-2 and F111 fly-overs over DC after the end of Saddam.
Didn’t know that B-1’s were still operational. Someone had written that they were taken out of combat. In this PC ear in the military, I’m surprised that we are allowed to attack the enemy.
Supposedly we are ending the production of the A-10 Warthog and of procuring the AV HArrier. Both of these would be major mistakes are they are perfectly fitted for use in Afghanistan where firepower is badly needed and landing strips are rare (roads, desert, roof tops will do for a Harrier).
Again, our PC military leaders are stripping out ability to defend ourselves and to aid our troops in the field. A whiff of Obama treason is in the air.
Looks like good stuff that will never be properly used due to the stated ROE on positive ID and guaranteed no collateral damage requirement, even when US troops are fully engaged and need air support.
I was on the Hot Pad at Grand Forks supervising the unload of a Storage Shipping Container Ballistic Missile (Minuteman III shipping container) from a C-141 when the ground started to tremble and a loud roar came through our hearing protectors.
We looked around and watched as one of the Bomb Wing's B-1s came screaming by, about 200 feet off the deck, wings swept back with the afterburners on. Blue flame shot about 30 out of the nozzles as it flew a line down the runway and then rolled 45 degrees and pulled a near-vertical climb.
They had just returned from winning the SAC Bomb Competition.
A massive nuclear attack at the outset would have saved a lot of screwing around with pinpricks.
>>>Supposedly we are ending the production of the A-10 Warthog and of procuring the AV HArrier
We haven’t bought any new a-10’s for decades. They have gotten some upgrades.
F-111’s were retired from the AF in the late 90’s. The website globalsecurity.org does not list any F-111’s in the inventory.
I was at a crossroads 100mi SE of Tonopah and on reservation. It was a freak deal as I normally took provided transportation to work. I wanted to show off my new truck and just drive the dang thing. I got stopped unexpectedly. For a 30min wait it was just me and the two SP’s to watch that slow, low flyover.
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