Lockheed Martin’s advanced targeting pod reaches key USAF milestone
By Loren Blinde
March 17, 2014
The U.S. Air Force declared initial operational capability (IOC) for Lockheed Martin’s Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod – Sensor Enhancement (ATP-SE) and has now deployed the system to support combat operations in theater.
An enhanced configuration of Sniper ATP, Sniper ATP-SE, provides USAF strike fighter and bomber aircraft with advanced modes for non-traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; improved combat identification; expanded air-to-air and maritime capability; and two-way data link communication.
Lockheed Martin won the U.S. Air Force’s ATP-SE competition in 2010.
“The path to IOC involved collaboration between Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force to complete a two-year, six-platform ATP-SE test program,” said Ken Fuhr, director of fixed wing programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “Lockheed Martin also manufactured more than 100 Sniper ATP-SE pods and successfully trained squadrons to operate and maintain the system. This significant achievement enables the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard to deploy Sniper ATP-SE worldwide on the A-10C, B-1, F-15E and F-16 Blocks 30, 40 and 50 for increased performance and situational awareness.”
Sniper ATP-SE is also equipped with Net-T capability, which enables a point-to-multipoint networking architecture. When used with other platforms, it gives operators and analysts access to real-time data beyond their line of sight. B-1 bombers at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas were the first operational aircraft to deploy with Sniper ATP-SE.
