Thomas Daschle: “As the chairman knows, on April 24th, in testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Air National Guard…”

“As the chairman knows, on April 24th, in testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Air National Guard (ANG) identified the procurement of 24 additional LITENING II targeting pods as their number one priority. At the present time, U.S. ANG fighter components equipped with the LITENING II targeting pods are participating in Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Enduring Freedom. By all accounts, the ANG aircraft are performing their combat missions with great success, due in large measure to the fact that the pods provide the aircraft with a precision target capability. As a result, the Air National Guard has established a requirement to equip additional ANG aircraft with the LITENING II pods. The South Dakota National Guard has indicated to me that their mission effectiveness would be greatly enhanced if we were to outfit their aircraft with these pods. Other Senators from other states have heard a similar message from their Guard units. We all agree that the procurement of an additional 24 LITENING II AT pods will greatly increase the Guard's ability to carry out its combat missions.”