Industry is anticipating the launch of a massive competition to acquire 275 more advanced targeting pods for US Air Force combat aircraft, with a selection expected from early next year.
Sources close to the process say they expect two competitors to contest the requirement: Lockheed Martin, with its Sniper, and Northrop Grumman, which will offer the Litening G4 system, based on a design developed by Israel's Rafael.
A draft request for proposals is expected in July, with a full RFP to follow in September and offers to be submitted in November, say industry sources. However, the USAF says there is currently no "hard schedule" to launch the competition.
The follow-on requirement comes after the USAF in 2002 contracted Lockheed to produce its Sniper XR system, and should increase its total inventory of advanced targeting pods to 670.
The selected system will be required for installation on the service's Fairchild A-10, Boeing F-15 and Lockheed F-16 strike aircraft, and its Boeing B-1 and B-52 bombers.
Sources suggest a split purchase could be one outcome of the pending contest, which has been prompted due to the high demand for targeting and reconnaissance systems over Afghanistan and Iraq.
Source: Flight International
