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Elite 1K Joined: Jul 12, 2005 Posts: 1581 Status: Offline

Hello all,

Got these photos of a friend of mine taken from a WA ANG KC-135R taken on June 27th 2007 showing MT Vipers with Litening TGPs once more, as all their earlier used Snipers have been transferred out.

It seems that the ANG/AFRC will use Litening TGPs now that the Active units have their Vipers go through the CCIP program and thereby getting Snipers for their Block-40/50 Vipers.

The SC ANG still uses Snipers as one of a few left in the ANG.

Greetings,

Henrik.

Photos by jonpece.

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Henrik,

I saw those pics in the on-line newspaper. They are some good pics.

Here is a link to the news article PLUS the photo gallery of all the pics. I forgot about posting this when I saw it.

Joel

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070609/NEWS01/706090302

Elite 1K Joined: Jul 12, 2005 Posts: 1581 Status: Offline

Thanks for the link, Joel, but this was another mission. Different tanker unit and different MT ANG F-16 serials.

Greetings,

Henrik.

Henrik wrote:

It seems that the ANG/AFRC will use Litening TGPs now that the Active units have their Vipers go through the CCIP program and thereby getting Snipers for their Block-40/50 Vipers.

The SC ANG still uses Snipers as one of a few left in the ANG.

Actually that's totally incorrect the ANG & ACC continue to fly both SNIPER and Litening AT pods. The ANG has quite a few units who fly SNIPER. To give some background the original Litening program was an ANG/AFRC program only and the original SNIPER Program was an ANG/ACC program, they have both since changed and progressed.

Cheers,

ViperDude

Elite 1K Joined: Jul 12, 2005 Posts: 1581 Status: Offline

Thank You ViperDude for the additional information.

Maybe I am not updated, but the latest information I got shows the 113th WG of the DC ANG, the 169th FW of the SC ANG and the 174th FW of the NY ANG being the only ANG F-16 units flying Snipers??!!

The Active/Overseas units, well....the 20th FW at Shaw AFB, SC flies AN/AAQ-14 and AN/ASQ-213 exclusively, the 388th FW at Hill AFB, UT flies AN/AAQ-14s, the 354th FW at Eielson AFB, AK flies AAQ-14s and i in the process of sending their current Block-40s to the 51st FW at Osan AFB, RoK so the "OS" Block-40s can go to the 80th FS at Kunsan AB, RoK and - in turn - the "Big Inlet" Block-30s currently flown by the 80th will join the 18th AGRS / 354th FW at Eielson.

The 35th FW at Misawa AB, Japan uses Litenings. The 8th FW at Kunsan AB, RoK flies with Snipers and the 51st FW at Osan AB, RoK still use AAQ-14s on their Block-40s.

In the USAFE the 31st FW at Aviano AB, Italy flies Snipers on deployments and AAQ-14s at home for training and the 52nd FW at Spangdahlem AB, Germany has recently started to fly the Sniper/ASQ-213 combo. The 52nd FW, however, still flies with the AAQ-14s, as well.

Of cause test and development units fly a bit of it all.

At this point ANG/AFRC units are not "allowed" to fly with Snipers when deployed to fx. Iraq, so many of those units having gotten their own Snipers have actually traded them for Litenings once more!!

Greetings,

Henrik.

Enthusiast Joined: Jul 31, 2006 Posts: 23 Status: Offline

Henrik,

We (174th FW) are currently flying the Sniper TGP. You are also correct in saying that the 113th WG & 169th FW are as well. We flew the LITENING II TGPs during our AEF rotations & numerous times at home-station. We have flown the LANTIRN, LITENING II, & Sniper pods at various times over the past few years.

No ANG units "own" pods. They are managed by the ANG & rotated amongst various units depending on training needs or AEF spin up.

As for active duty...all of the Viper units that deploy to AEF (non SEAD) also fly the LITENING II pods. The LANTIRN pod is exclusively used for training purposes now. I have seen LITENING II pods on various active duty Vipers to include the 31st FW & 388th FW.

As for the Snipers not being allowed on AEF Vipers...there were various reasons for that which I won't discuss. l believe you will see that change in the near future.

ViperDude is correct in saying that the LITENING program was an ANG/AFRC program originally, funded by those commands. The Sniper program was an ACC/ANG program. In the last few years this has changed & now both the LITENING II & Sniper TGPs are used by the "Total Force." The USAF has even flight tested the Sniper pod on a B-1B.

Hope this helps...

Elite 1K Joined: Jul 12, 2005 Posts: 1581 Status: Offline

Thank You very much for Your verification, Vader!! Good information.

I saw a picture of an Edwards B-1 with a Sniper - very impressive!!

Greetings,

Henrik.

Just a quick correction. There are no longer any Litening II pods, they are all now called Litening AT pods or Litening AT VDL (Video Data Link) pods. Its true the Litening program is now being flown by ACC/AFRC/ANG, however the SNIPER program is still an ANG/ACC program only, the AFRC do not own or nor do they fly SNIPER pods.

Cheers,

ViperDude

Enthusiast Joined: Jul 31, 2006 Posts: 23 Status: Offline

Quote:

There are no longer any Litening II pods, they are all now called Litening AT pods or Litening AT VDL (Video Data Link) pods.

I knew that...just an old habit to use LITENING II. I know their all ATs or VDLs now.

Thanks!

Enthusiast Joined: Jun 18, 2007 Posts: 51 Status: Offline

Colorado ANG is also flying with sniper pods. 120th fs

Hey Henrik! Nice to see you here. Thanks for the pics, there's a detachment of MT ANG Vipers at my base here, I call them 'the babies' Wink

Elite 1K Joined: Jul 12, 2005 Posts: 1581 Status: Offline

Hey Habu!! Thanks for Your kind words. Yes, I know about this Det. They have started to fly with live AIM-9Xs lately.

Take good care of our "babies" Wink

.

Greetings,

Henrik.

AIM-9Xs eh? I'll have to see if I can get out on the flightline. Dunno if they like us Army boys out there Wink

bandit66 wrote:

Colorado ANG is also flying with sniper pods. 120th fs

Colorado is not flying with SNIPERS, however they have in the past.

Cheers,

ViperDude

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