Lockheed Martin To Produce Sensor-Enhanced Sniper Pods For USAF

Lockheed Martin has won a $176.1 million contracts from the US Air Force for Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod-Sensor Enhancement (ATP-SE) production and upgrade kits that will convert Sniper ATPs to the ATP-SE configuration.

Sniper ATP-SE has improved sensors, a two-way datalink and algorithms that increase air-to-ground, air-to-air and maritime targeting capability. Upgrade kits consist of line replaceable units that will be installed in fielded ATPs.

Deliveries of pods and upgrade kits will begin in fourth quarter 2016, the company announced Thursday.

"With the purchase of new Sniper ATP-SEs and the continued conversion of Sniper ATPs to ATP-SEs, the US Air Force will gain greater targeting capability and performance across its multi-platform fleet," said Paul Lemmo, vice president of Fire Control/SOF CLSS at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

Lockheed Martin was the majority winner of the 2010 US Air Force/Air National Guard ATP-SE competition. As a configuration of Sniper ATP, Sniper ATP-SE provides strike fighter and bomber aircraft with advanced modes for non-traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; improved combat identification; and two-way data link communication.

Sniper ATP is interoperable across multiple platforms, including multinational F-2, F-15, F-16, F-18, A-10, B-1 and B-52 aircraft.

In 2014, the Sniper ATP team received the Secretary of Defense Performance-Based Logistics Award, recognizing its excellence in providing operational support to war fighters.