The Dutch Defence Materiel Organisation awarded Lockheed Martin [LMT] a contract to equip the Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16 fleet with the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP), the company said Monday.
The contract includes 29 Sniper ATPs, support equipment, training, and sustainment. Lockheed Martin will provide sustainment support for the Royal Netherlands Air Force through a performance-based logistics program. The contract value was undisclosed.
The Sniper ATP detects, identifies, automatically tracks, and laser designates small tactical targets at long ranges, the company said. The system also supports the use of all laser- and GPS-guided weapons against fixed and moving targets.
Depot repairs are planned to be performed at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex through the company’s partnership with the U.S. Government, Lockheed Martin said.
“Expedited delivery will enable the Royal Netherlands Air Force to rapidly deploy Sniper ATP to support current mission requirements. Maintaining a high availability rate through our award-winning sustainment program will also ensure the Sniper ATPs remain operational for warfighters,” Rich Lovette, director of Sniper international programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said in a statement.
Sniper ATP is interoperable across platforms including U.S. Air Force and multinational F-2, F-15, F-16, F-18, A-10, B-1, and B-52 aircraft.
This contract makes the Netherlands the 21st international customer for the Sniper ATP system. Deliveries are set to begin in the first quarter of 2016, Lockheed Martin said.