Netherlands becomes the 21st export customer of Lockheed's Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod.

"The Sniper ATP provides critical capabilities to counterinsurgency missions by providing advanced positive ID, non-traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; coordination with ground troops; and real-time coordinate generation for joint direct attack munitions," said Ken Fuhr, Sniper ATP program director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "As threats on the battlefield evolve, so will Sniper technology."

Designed, developed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the Sniper ATP achieves unmatched performance from its high-resolution, mid-wave forward-looking infrared and TV sensors, which operate in conjunction with a dual-mode laser, permitting eye-safe operation and precise geo-location in urban environments.For target coordination, the Sniper pod possesses a laser spot tracker to see other laser spots from air and ground assets, an infrared marker visible to night vision goggles and a video down link to ground forces. The Sniper ATP is the only targeting pod fielded that incorporates meta-data in every frame of video. The date/time stamp and coordinate information further ensures accuracy throughout intelligence and command and control functions.

Sniper ATP detects, identifies, automatically tracks and laser designates small tactical targets at long ranges. It also supports employment of all laser- and GPS-guided weapons against multiple fixed and moving targets. Sniper ATP is interoperable across multiple platforms, including U.S. Air Force and multinational F-2, F-15, F-16, F-18, A-10, B-1 and B-52 aircraft.