Lockheed Martin [LMT] has signed a foreign military sales contract to deliver Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATPs) and LANTIRN Enhanced Resolution (ER) navigation pods to the Turkish Air Force, the company said yesterday.
Valued at $118 million, the contract will provide Sniper ATP and LANTIRN ER navigation pods to equip Turkish Air Force F-16 Block 40 and Block 50 Peace Onyx aircraft.
Packaged in a single lightweight pod, the Sniper ATP provides long-range, positive identification of both moving and stationary air and ground targets. It also possesses a video downlink equipped with the widely used Rover ground receiver to relay high-resolution streaming video to forward-deployed forces for non-traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and rapid target coordination.
Designed, developed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the Sniper ATP provides precision engagement capability through its high-resolution, mid-wave forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and TV sensors, which operate in conjunction with a dual-mode laser, permitting eye-safe operation and precise geolocation in urban environments.
Combat proven on the F-16, F-15E, B-1, A-10 and Harrier GR7 and GR9 aircraft, the Sniper ATP is also flying on the F/A-18 and B-52. With advanced integration across U.S. Air Force and multinational aircraft, the Sniper ATP’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 for greater interoperability.
The LANTIRN ER, meanwhile, features terrain-following radar and allows aircrews to operate worldwide, in daylight or darkness, at mission altitudes from sea level to 40,000 feet.