USA company to upgrade PAF’s F16 aircraft with Sniper technology

Lockheed Martin has received a follow-on contract to produce and upgrade Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATPs) for the Pakistan Air Force’s F-16 fleet. The contract includes the production of 15 Sniper ATPs and upgrades to the Pakistan Air Force’s existing 22 Sniper ATPs. The upgrades will increase compatibility with the aircraft and enable enhanced features.

Lockheed Martin, headquartered in Maryland, USA, is an aerospace, defense, and security company. It is actively engaged in the research, design, development and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products, and services.

See Also: Pakistani Aircraft gets several export orders at Paris Air Show 2015

“Sniper ATP has supported the Pakistan Air Force’s mission since 2010,” said Rich Lovette, Sniper International Program director at Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control. “Additional Sniper ATPs and upgrades will give the Pakistan Air Force a more robust precision targeting capability to support the nation’s security requirements.”

Sniper is the most widely deployed targeting system for fixed-wing aircraft and is in use by more than 16 international air forces. The Sniper ATP provides pilots with high-resolution imagery for precision targeting, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. They detect, identify, automatically track and laser-designate small tactical targets at long ranges. Sniper is designed for current and future aircraft with the electro-optical targeting system in a single, lightweight pod. It is currently operational on the F-15, F-16, F-18, B-1, B-52 and A-10.

To meet the PAF’s urgent operational need, pod deliveries will begin later this year.