Lockheed Martin Receives $147 Million Contract for Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Lockheed Martin has received a $147 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for additional Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATPs). The Sniper ATP provides critical long-range, positive identification of targets and coordinates self-generated video down-link (VDL) to remotely-operated, video enhancement receiver ground terminals.>> Sniper ATP's advanced target identification capabilities enhance the Warfighter's ability to detect and analyze ground targets while dramatically decreasing the risks posed by enemy air defenses.>> "The Sniper pod serves a vital role in the Air Force's ongoing fighter and bomber operations in theater," said Ken Fuhr, director of Fixed-wing Targeting Programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "We are continuously driving new features and capabilities into the system to keep Sniper ATP the most advanced targeting pod in the world.">> A new feature in development is a missionized two-way data link system. Lockheed Martin has a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the Air Force Research Lab to integrate Quint Networking Technology into the Sniper pod. This will enable a two-way data link between other Sniper ATP-equipped aircraft and ground parties, dramatically shortening targeting, close air support and damage assessment timelines.>> For joint force coordination, Sniper ATP has successfully demonstrated real-time, streaming video via its VDL to the Army Apache helicopter using the Video for Unmanned Aerial Systems Interoperability Teaming-2, or VUIT-2 system.