Air International 2008-11
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J.Lake - Eagle Eyed Raptor /Military/
Goodrich has developed a slightly different shaped pod. compared to the RAF's RAPTOR, for the DB-110 sensor when carried by other fast jets such as the F-16 pictured here.
Three F-16 customers have purchased DB-110 pods. Pictured is a Polish Air Force Fighting Falcon with the pod on the centreline station.
RAPTOR was developed for the RAF and used operationally for the first time in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, despite not having fully entered service. This 13 Squadron Tornado GR4A is carrying a RAPTOR pod on a station under the fuselage.
In 2005, the RAF undertook trials of RAPTOR on a Predator B at NAWS China lake. To date the pod has only been flown operationally in RAF service on the Tornado GR4/4A.