Lockheed Martin officials tell Air Warfare Symposium attendees the company expects this year to demonstrate for the Air Force the two-way “John Madden” capability of its Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod. In the Sniper’s first demonstration, Lockheed used a video downlink that showed streaming TV with increased resolution and imagery. The second demonstration will feature transmit and receive, high-definition quality, two-way connectivity to generate even more precise targeting ability. Lockheed plans to offer the Air Force the John Madden video-to-ground feature in real-time to replace LANTIRN targeting pods on the F-16 and F-15E. Lockheed already has received a contract for a B-1B Sniper flight demo and hopes to flight test it with the B-52 later this year.
A-10 Thunderbolt II attack planes in the Middle East are flying with fresh modifications as the Air Force looks to make the plane more versatile amid America’s ongoing blockade of Iranian ports and a tenuous ceasefire in the U.S. air war against Iran.