AviTech Reader

Sometime ago, the U.S Air force advanced 23 million dollars to Boeing to finish the second phase of the B-1 laptop-controlled Targeting Pod software upgrade. The second phase enables the bomber’s targeting pod to find stationary targets and transmit GPS co-ordinates using its avionics system to the weapons- a process that was very manual and used to introduce many errors. It will also complete the integration of the Sniper pod with B-1 programs enable single-moving –target kill capability using laser technology of the Guided Bomb unit.

ESP PC-based visual simulation for better pilot training is also provided to ensure pilots are best equiped with knowledge and practical exposure of the combat missions with less expenses for faster learning.

War fighter pilots stand to highly benefit from this massive resource to hone up their skills in battle. This is after Lockheed Martin and Microsoft Corp. signed a license agreement to continue development of Microsoft’s ESP PC-based visual simulation software platform. Lockheed Martin, now with access to the ESP technology portfolio, will be able to build more economic simulation solutions for customized training of the various customers.

With that in mind, testing and learning has been accelerated in recent times and is nearly done, and may lead to the Air Force's Air Combat Command plans to approve sending pod-equipped bombers on operational missions by mid-summer. With the powerful software, the Pilot in command can easily cross check co-ordinates and visual locations of targets before dropping weapons and would be very profitable for combat for example in places like Iraq and Afghanistan where the B1 Bomber has been used in the past.