By Marina Malenic
Orlando, Fla.–Lockheed Martin [LMT] will increase production of Air Force Sniper Pod targeting systems in the coming months to meet increased demand, officials here said yesterday.
The current production rate is eight per month, with plans to increase to 10, said Mel Schubert, the production operations manager at the facility.
Officials have previously said that the Orlando factory has the capacity to produce 12 units per month or more, depending on the need (Defense Daily, Oct. 2, 2008).
The company’s original contract with the service was for 522 pods, and deliveries have been ahead of the contract schedule for the past three years, according to Mark Fischer, Lockheed Martin senior manager for fixed-wing targeting.
Lockheed Martin currently has nine international customers for the system, according to Fischer.
“We have discussions with potential new customers on awards,” he added.
The Sniper was first deployed in combat in January 2005 and is now incorporated into four U.S. platforms: the F-15E, F-16, B-1 and A-10 aircraft. The B-52 is next in line to receive the system, and flight testing is on track to make that happen next year, Fischer said.