Lockheed wins Pakistan contract - US gives Pakistan 18 Sniper spy pods for F-16s

[Neo]

Lockheed wins Pakistan contract

Richard Burnett | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted May 14, 2007, 10:52 AM EDT ON THE WEB
Check Lockheed Martin stock quote

Lockheed Martin Corp.'s Orlando missiles unit has received a multimillion-dollar contract to provide advanced weapons targeting systems to the country of Pakistan for its F-16 fighter jet fleet, the company said today.

Lockheed received the deal as part of the U.S. government's assistance to Pakistan as a military ally. Pakistan is the eighth U.S. ally to receive the Sniper advanced targeting system. The contract includes spare parts and training services. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Lockheed Missiles employs about 4,000 in Orlando in the design and production of missiles, navigation systems and other military wares.

Terms of the Pakistan deal call for deliveries to begin in 2008. The system is designed to allow F-16 air crews to perform intelligence-gathering, weapons-targeting, surveillance and reconnaissance missions from a standoff range outside enemy fire.

"This sale culminates a two year combined effort by Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control and Aeronautics businesses to upgrade the precision attack capability of one of our key allies," said Ken Fuhr, director of Fixed Wing Targeting Programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-biznews-lockheed051407,0,6277801.story?track=rss

 

[Neo]

US gives Pakistan 18 Sniper spy pods for F-16s

WASHINGTON: The US government has awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin for 18 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP), a part of the new advanced block 52 F-16 aircraft programme for Pakistan.

With deliveries beginning in 2008, Sniper ATP's exceptional stability and superior imagery will allow Pakistan Air Force to perform intelligence, targeting, surveillance and reconnaissance missions from extended standoff ranges.

Pakistan is the eighth international customer to join the US Air Force and Air National Guard flying with Sniper ATP. The contract includes spares and training services. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

"This sale culminates a two-year combined effort by Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control and Aeronautics businesses to upgrade the precision attack capability of one of our key allies," said Ken Fuhr, director of Fixed Wing Targeting Programmes at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Monday.

"Sniper continues to demonstrate exceptional performance in meeting the requirements and expectations of the Warfighter."

Sniper incorporates a high-resolution, mid-wave third-generation forward-looking infrared (FLIR), a dual-mode laser permitting eye-safe operation in urban environments, a CCD-TV along with a laser spot tracker and a laser marker.

Sniper is fully compatible with the latest J-series munitions and precision-guided weaponry. Its superior detection ranges are vital to pilots, helping keep them out of range of threat air defences.

The Pakistan Air Force joins the UK Ministry of Defence; the Canadian Forces, the Royal Norwegian Air Force; the Polish Air and Air Defense Force; the Royal Air Force of Oman; the Belgium Defence and other international customers with its selection of the Sniper ATP.

Sniper ATP is currently flying on the US Air Force and multinational F-15s, F-16s, F-18s, A-10s, B-1s and the Harrier GR9. Sniper ATPs have accumulated tens of thousands of flight hours in thousands of sorties in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

The Maryland Headquartered Lockheed Martin is engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustaining of advanced technology systems.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...er_spy_pods_for_F-16s/articleshow/2045845.cms

 

[Neo]

Deliveries to start in 2008, does it mean we'll receive first of 18 block 52 F-16C/D in 2008 aswell?

 

[Neo]

Sniper Targetting Pod

 

[Owais]

only 18 targeting pod for our 76 F16?? thats too few!

 

[EagleEyes]

From my understanding. The first batch of F-16s which will consist of 18 F-16s Block 50 and 52 will have them.

Later more will follow.

 

[Awesome]

Only 18 perhaps would be used for Recon purposes...

 

[Awesome]

just read it again, its for targeting purposes... There should be more then.

 

[falcone]

PAKISTAN SELECTS LOCKHEED MARTIN'S SNIPER ADVANCED TARGETING POD
ORLANDO, FL, May 14, 2007 --

The U.S. government has awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] for 18 Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP), a part of the new Advanced Block 52 F-16 aircraft program for Pakistan. Pakistan is the eighth international customer to join the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard flying with Sniper ATP. The contract includes spares and training services. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

“This sale culminates a two year combined effort by Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control and Aeronautics businesses to upgrade the precision attack capability of one of our key allies,” said Ken Fuhr, director of Fixed Wing Targeting Programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “Sniper continues to demonstrate exceptional performance in meeting the requirements and expectations of the Warfighter.”

With deliveries beginning in 2008, the Pakistan Air Force will benefit from Sniper ATP’s exceptional stability and superior imagery, allowing aircrews to perform intelligence, targeting, surveillance and reconnaissance missions from extended standoff ranges.

The Pakistan Air Force joins the U.K. Ministry of Defence; the Canadian Forces, the Royal Norwegian Air Force; the Polish Air and Air Defense Force; the Royal Air Force of Oman; the Belgium Defence; and other international customers with its selection of the Sniper ATP.

Sniper ATP is currently flying on the U.S. Air Force and multinational F-15s, F-16s, F-18s, A-10s, B-1s and the Harrier GR9. Sniper ATPs have accumulated tens of thousands of flight hours in thousands of sorties in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

Sniper incorporates a high-resolution, mid-wave third-generation forward-looking infrared (FLIR), a dual-mode laser permitting eye-safe operation in urban environments, a CCD-TV along with a laser spot tracker and a laser marker. Sniper is fully compatible with the latest J-series munitions and precision-guided weaponry. Its superior detection ranges are vital to pilots, helping keep them out of range of threat air defenses.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/wms/findPage.do?dsp=fec&ci=18374&rsbci=0&fti=111&ti=0&sc=400

 

[falcone]

Well, as the article states, the SNIPER pods are for the new F-16 Block 52s. Maybe the PAF will buy more for the rest of the birds in the inventory and maybe more with another possible order of F-16s.

 

[blain2]

Sniper "POD" capability is a shared asset. That means that sqns depending on their tasking can actually get the pods around. All of Pakistani F-16s (including the MLU ones) are going to be capable of using the Sniper/Pantera POD so these pods are not limited to the blk-52 aircraft only.

 

[Neo]

Yay...thats great news!
What kind of targetting pod is available for JF-17 Blain?
Does China have something like the Sniper or Litening?

 

[A.Rahman]

can we get more then 18? why PAF choose 18? are they expensive?

 

[Ahassan]

yar shukar karo kuch tu kaam kee cheez mili..........and when their is a flight regarding....any PLANE not every time THESE pods r put into planes..........

 

[blain2]

Yay...thats great news!
What kind of targetting pod is available for JF-17 Blain?
Does China have something like the Sniper or Litening?

Neo, I am not sure as the weapons and avionics integration on the JF-17 is currently ongoing (as per the PAF). I believe its supposed to have an integrated targetting capability instead of a pod and will most likely be a Chinese solution.