Lockheed Martin and Rafael are expected to compete for a Singapore air force order for targeting pods for its Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters.
Industry sources expect a request for information to be issued in February and a selection is due before the year end.
Singapore is seeking a replacement for its Lockheed Martin developed LANTIRNs. Singapore is expected to evaluate Lockheed Martin's Pantera pod and the Litening offered by Rafael.
It is expected that winning the US Air Force's on-going Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) competition will improve a bidder's chances in Singapore. An ATP winner should be selected later this year. Both the Singapore contenders are bidding for ATP.
It is unclear whether Raytheon, the third ATP bidder with its Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared system, will be competing in the Singapore competition.
Source: Flight International
