Jacko
That philosophy makes sense, but if the IOC of the pod is in 2008, then Sniper XR *will* be in widespread use not only across US F-15E and F-16 Block 40/50 units, but with NATO member states, too.
If the philosophy was to buy a pod that is in widespread use *now*, then why the 3-year delay in IOC, and what's the logic in that? Also, Litening II is widely seen in the USAF as a temporary measure until the Sniper XR pod can be delivered in larger quantities. I would venture to suggest, therefore, that the Litening IIs in use by some AD F-15E and F-16 units today will probably have been superseded by the Sniper by 2008, and will accordingly be returned to the ANG units that ordered them originally.