ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. – When most U.S. Air Force fighter and bomber aircraft need to strike a target, they rely on the Sniper Pod, which provides long-range detection/identification of targets, as well as surveillance for all missions, including close air support of ground troops.
The Precision Attack Sniper Integrated Product Team, part of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Agile Combat Support Directorate, ensures the Sniper Pod operates as designed.
Recently, the team won the 2019 Secretary of Defense Performance-Based Logistics Award in the Sub-System Category, for their work providing modernization and sustainment support to the Sniper Pod.
The prestigious award, managed by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics and Materiel Readiness, is given to teams that have demonstrated innovative sustainment solutions and improved lethality for warfighters.
Over the past year, working closely with Lockheed Martin and the Robins Air Logistics Complex, the team sustained a 98 percent pod availability rate, greatly exceeding the 90 percent standard.
The partnership utilized an innovative real-time parts replenishment process in the depot, capitalized on fast commercial transportation, and supported field maintainers with a 24-hour technical assistance hotline. Moreover, the program’s commitment to continuous hardware and software improvements dramatically increased pod reliability, while simultaneously reducing contract sustainment costs by $91 million.
“Sniper ATP provides pilots high-resolution imagery for precision targeting and non-traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions,” said Paul Miller, one of the sniper logistics manager on the Precision Attack Sniper IPT. “It executes the Find, Fix, Track, Target, Engage, and Assess kill-chain, laser-designating small tactical targets at extended standoff ranges and supports employment of laser and GPS-guided weapons against fixed and moving targets. I’m proud to work on the team that supports a system that is being used every day to defend the United States, support our troops and give them top cover.”
This is second time the team has been recognized with the Department of Defense award. The other time being in 2014.
“It’s quite an honor to be recognized,” said Betty Riley, chief of the Precision Attack Sniper Integrated Product Team. “When you consider it’s a Secretary of Defense award, and you were competing against other agencies and your effort is recognized as a top program, it’s a big deal. Moving forward, we are going to continue to sustain Sniper Pod at a high level.”