USAF signs $961 million contract to upgrade, sustain Sniper targeting pods
NewsDecember 21, 2017
ORLANDO, Fla. The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to provide sustainment and upgrades for its fleet of 683 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP). The five-year, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract -- which is valued at up to $961 million -- enables the Air Force to place orders for logistics, spares, software, and sensor enhancements to the pods.
Lockheed Martin's Sniper ATP detects, identifies, automatically tracks, and laser-designates small tactical targets at long ranges; the pod also supports the use of laser- and GPS-guided weapons against multiple fixed and moving targets. Sniper ATP has been chosen by the U.S. Air Force and 25 international customers. It is able to be used across multiple platforms, including multinational F-2, F-15, F-16, F-18, A-10, B-1, B-52, and Typhoon aircraft.
"This contract enables us to respond promptly to the needs of our warfighters, including maintaining Sniper's availability and reliability rates while advancing capabilities through pod upgrades," said Nicole Visosky, U.S. Air Force program manager.
