Saudi Arabia to get Sniper Pod support facility
Lockheed Martin will team with Saudi-based Advanced Electronics Company (AEC) to establish a Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) Expanded Repair Capability facility in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The facility, which will support the Royal Saudi Air Force's (RSAF) Sniper ATPs, will be the first Sniper support facility established outside the US.
The Sniper ATP Expanded Repair Capability will be established as part of an existing offset agreement between the Saudi Arabia Economic Offset Committee and Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin will train AEC technicians to perform maintenance on Sniper ATP line replaceable units, and future AEC support will include managing logistics and completing product upgrades for both Sniper ATP and LANTIRN pods. The benefit to the RSAF will be expedited repair times and reduced costs.
The Sniper ATP provides pilots with high-resolution imagery for precision targeting and non-traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The system is interoperable across multiple platforms, including US Air Force and multi-national F-15, F-16, F-18, A-10, B-1 and B-52 aircraft.
John Rogers, F-15SA program manager, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said: ‘Providing in-kingdom support with AEC ensures that Sniper ATP capability is readily available for the RSAF. AEC is a strategic partner in the kingdom, and we look forward to finding additional opportunities to work together.’
Lockheed Martin and AEC have previously collaborated on Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor special repair activities and LANTIRN targeting and navigation pods.
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