Lockheed Martin recently delivered the first Sniper sensor pods ordered by the South Korean air force for its fleet of F-15K fighters. They arrived at Daegu Air Base, home to F-15Ks. The pods, which identify targets at long ranges and relay high-resolution streaming video to ground forces, will be “immediately deployed into full flight operations” with the F-15K fleet, according to a company release. “Sniper pods provide the [South Koreans] with updated targeting and non-traditional intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance capabilities,” said Marc Nazon, Lockheed’s program manager for fixed wing fire control. “We look forward to continued support and training to ensure that [their] pilots and maintainers have a full command of the Sniper pod’s life capabilities.”
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.