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


| 2015
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World Defense & Security News - The Netherlands
 
 
 
Netherlands becomes the 21st export customer of Lockheed's Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod
 
The Royal Netherlands Air Force selected Lockheed Martin’s Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) to equip its F-16 fleet, becoming the 21st international customer to acquire the multi-mission system. The contract was awarded through the Dutch Defence Materiel Organisation and includes 29 Sniper ATPs as well as support equipment, training and sustainment. Pod deliveries will begin in the first quarter of 2016.
     
Netherlands becomes the 21st export customer of Lockheed Martin s Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod 640 001Lockheed Martin Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod
     
Expedited delivery will enable the Royal Netherlands Air Force to rapidly deploy Sniper ATP to support current mission requirements,” said Rich Lovette, director of Sniper international programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “Maintaining a high availability rate through our award-winning sustainment program will also ensure the Sniper ATPs remain operational for warfighters.”

Under this contract, Lockheed Martin will provide sustainment support for the Royal Netherlands Air Force through a Performance-Based Logistics program. Depot repairs will be performed at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex through Lockheed Martin’s partnership with the U.S. Government.

Deployed in theater since January 2005, Sniper pods have accumulated over 100,000 flight hours in thousands of sorties throughout Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.


"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.

 

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