Advanced Targeting Pods To the Royal Saudi Air Force

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has signed a foreign military sales contract to deliver Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATPs) to the Royal Saudi Air Force. This is the first phase of a multi-year $100 million precision sensor modernization program to replace Lockheed Martin LANTIRN targeting and navigation pods used aboard Royal Saudi Air Force F-15S aircraft since the mid 1990s. “The Royal Saudi Air Force has been a valued customer for nearly two decades,” said John Rogers, Saudi Sniper ATP program manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “With this contract to deliver the Sniper pod for their F-15S aircraft, Lockheed Martin can continue to provide the Royal Saudi Air Force with the latest in advanced targeting pod technology.” Packaged in a single lightweight pod, Sniper ATP’s enhanced image clarity provides critical long-range positive identification of targets and real-time targeting for weapons. Its state-of-the-art tracker enables employment of advanced laser-guided weapons against moving targets. The only fielded targeting pod incorporating meta-data in every frame of video, the date/time stamp and coordinate information further ensure accuracy throughout intelligence and command and control functions. Currently flying on the U.S. Air Force and multinational F-16, F-15, B-1, F-18, Harrier, A-10, B-52 and Tornado aircraft, the Sniper pod’s common software and hardware interface design enables users to “plug and play” across services and multiple platforms, providing a common software and hardware configuration across aircraft fleets. The Sniper ATP is currently in service with the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard and 10 international air forces and coalition partners. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 146,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design,development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.

Posted in: Fighter jet,Saudi Arabia