Lockheed Martin Upgrades Advanced Targeting Pods

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Sniper advanced targeting pods (ATPs) for the US Air Force (USAF) will be upgraded by Lockheed Martin within the framework of a $961m contract. The company will provide sustainment and upgrades for the USAF’s fleet of 683 Sniper ATPs over a period of five years.

The Sniper ATP has been designed to detect, identify, automatically track, and laser-designate small tactical targets at long ranges.

The ATP, which provides superior air-to-ground and air-to-air targeting capability, is continuously upgraded with the most advanced technology, according to the company.

The Sniper’s major competitor is the Litening system manufactured by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.

USAF program manager Nicole Visosky said: “This contract enables us to respond promptly to the needs of our warfighters, including maintaining Sniper’s availability and reliability rates while advancing capabilities through pod upgrades.”

According to airforce-technology.com, the contract also allows the USAF to place orders for logistics, spares, software and sensor enhancements, among other activities, Lockheed stated.

It also supports employment of all laser and GPS-guided weapons against multiple fixed and moving targets, Lockheed stated.

The Sniper ATP is claimed to be interoperable across multiple platforms, including the USAF and multinational F-2, F-15, F-16, F-18, A-10, B-1, B-52, and Typhoon aircraft.