Sniper ATP Provides Successful Combat Capability On B-1B Lancer

ORLANDO, FL: Lockheed Martin's Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) recently deployed on the B-1B Lancer in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Aircrews deployed with Sniper technology marked a combat first in August when they successfully targeted and engaged enemy forces on the ground.

The Sniper ATP enables positive identification of targets, coordinates self-generation, remotely operated video enhancement receiver video down link, laser guided weapons employment and expands B-1's non-traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability.

The U.S. Air Force, Lockheed Martin and Boeing team responded to an urgent needs request earlier this year by rapidly integrating, testing, training and fielding the Sniper pod on the B-1 aircraft at Ellsworth Air Force Base, SD. By combining the developmental and operational testing, program preparation was shortened from two months to two weeks and the overall program time was shortened from nine months to three months.

"Sniper ATP brings an amazing new capability to the already amazing B-1B," said Air Force Col. Marilyn Kott, 379th Expeditionary Operations Group commander. "It increases the speed and accuracy with which the aircrew and the [joint tactical air controllers] can execute their missions. Our enemies now have even less opportunity to avoid us, less opportunity to get away and less opportunity to continue their efforts against the populations ofIraq and Afghanistan."

Deployed in theater since January 2005, Sniper pods have accumulated over 100,000 flight hours in thousands of sorties throughout Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Competitively selected as the Air Force's advanced targeting pod, Lockheed Martin's Sniper ATP has also been selected by nine international air forces and coalition partners.

"The Sniper ATP provides critical capabilities to counterinsurgency missions by providing advanced positive ID, non-traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; coordination with ground troops; and real-time coordinate generation for joint direct attack munitions," said Ken Fuhr, Sniper ATP program director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "As threats on the battlefield evolve, so will Sniper technology."

Designed, developed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the Sniper ATP achieves unmatched performance from its high-resolution, mid-wave forward-looking infrared and TV sensors, which operate in conjunction with a dual-mode laser, permitting eye-safe operation and precise geo-location in urban environments.For target coordination, the Sniper pod possesses a laser spot tracker to see other laser spots from air and ground assets, an infrared marker visible to night vision goggles and a video down link to ground forces. The Sniper ATP is the only targeting pod fielded that incorporates meta-data in every frame of video. The date/time stamp and coordinate information further ensures accuracy throughout intelligence and command and control functions.

The Sniper ATP is currently flying on the U.S. Air Force and multinational F-16, F-15, B-1, F-18, Harrier and A-10 aircraft. The system is also being integrated on the B-52.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin is a global security company that 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. The corporation reported 2007 sales of $41.9 billion.