Getting Ready for Sniper

The 75th Fighter Squadron at Moody AFB, Ga., is preparing to deploy this fall to Southwest Asia with a new capability: Lockheed Martin’s Sniper targeting pod. “It’s the Air Force’s pod of choice and is already in use in combat as well as in several active duty units who are equipped with both the A-10Cs and other aircraft including the B-1B, F-15Es, and F-16s,” said Lt. Col. Derek Oaks, 75th FS commander. Already the 81st FS at Spangdahlem AB, Germany, and 354th FS at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., fly with Snipers. Snipers have proved their worth in guiding laser-guided bombs and generating coordinates for GPS-guidance-aided weapons. They have also been used effectively in intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance roles like monitoring enemy locations and movements and providing overhead escort for convoys. (Moody report by A1C Brigitte Brantley)