Egypt to purchase US AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods.

According to information published by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) on December 29, 2020, the U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Egypt of AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATPs) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $65.6 million.

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Sniper ATP pod mounted on Canadian CF-188. (Picture source Wikimedia)

The Government of Egypt has requested to buy twenty (20) AN/AAQ-33 Sniper ATPs. Also included are pylons; shipping containers; spare and repair/return parts; ground handling equipment; publications and technical documentation; software and software support; personnel training; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistical support services; and other related elements of program and logistical support. The estimated total program cost is $65.6 million.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally country that continues to be an important strategic partner in the Middle East.

The proposed sale will improve Egypt’s capability and effectiveness to meet current and future threats by providing additional precision targeting capability to conduct border security and counterterrorism operations. The added precision strike capability will better enable Egypt to conduct operations while minimizing collateral damage. Egypt will have no difficultly absorbing the additional equipment into its armed forces.

The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Fort Worth, TX. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Egypt.

The AN/AAQ-33 Sniper is a targeting pod for military aircraft that provides positive target identification, autonomous tracking, GPS coordinate generation, and precise weapons guidance from extended standoff ranges. The pod is manufactured by the American company Lockheed Martin.

Sniper ATP is a proven electro-optical targeting system housed in a single, lightweight pod. It handles the most challenging precision targeting and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) air-to-air and air-to-ground missions in the land, sea, and air domains. Employed by over 27 international customers and the U.S. Air Force, Sniper ATP is a global leader in precision targeting and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.