Editing Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod

{{Short description|Military aircraft targeting pod}}
{{lead rewrite|date=May 2010}}
[[Image:Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod.jpg|thumb|right|A Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod hangs from the underbelly of a [[Rockwell B-1 Lancer|B-1B Lancer]]]]
[[Image:ANAAQ-33 Sniper XR センサー.JPG|thumb|A Sniper pod on an F-16s hardpoint]]

The [[Lockheed Martin]] '''Sniper''' is a [[targeting pod]] for [[military aircraft]] that provides positive target identification, autonomous tracking, [[Global Positioning System|GPS]] coordinate generation, and precise weapons guidance from extended standoff ranges.

The system has been designated '''AN/AAQ-33''' in U.S. military service as the ''Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP)''. Further variants are the ''Sniper Extended Range (XR)'', as well as the ''PANTERA'' export derivative of the Sniper XR. The [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II]] is built with the equivalent of the Sniper XR in its onboard sensors called the '''AN/AAQ-40''' ''Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS)''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/26/newest-u-s-stealth-fighter-10-years-behind-older-jets.html|title=Newest U.S. Stealth Fighter '10 Years Behind' Older Jets|newspaper=The Daily Beast|date=26 December 2014|last1=Majumdar|first1=Dave}}</ref> The most modern version is the ''Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod - Sensor Enhancement (ATP-SE)''.

==Design==
[[Image:F-15E with Sniper pod.jpg|thumb|An F-15E Strike Eagle carrying a Sniper pod (under engine intake)]]

The Sniper is a single, lightweight [[targeting pod]] with much lower [[aerodynamic drag]] than the systems it replaces {{citation needed|date=December 2014}}. Its [[image processing]] allows aircrews to detect, identify and engage tactical-size targets outside the range of most enemy air defenses, giving it a crucial role in the destruction of enemy [[air defense]] missions. It also supports urban engagements beyond jet noise range for [[counter-insurgency]] operations. It offers a 3-5X increase in detection range over the older [[LANTIRN]] system {{citation needed|date=December 2014}}, and is currently flying on U.S. Air Force and multinational [[F-16]], [[F-15]], [[B-1B]], [[CF-18]], [[Harrier Jump Jet|Harrier]], [[A-10]], [[B-52]] and [[Panavia Tornado|Tornado]] aircraft.

The pod incorporates a high definition mid-wave [[FLIR]], dual-mode laser, visible-light HDTV, laser spot tracker, laser marker, video data link, and a digital data recorder.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104527/sniper-pod/|title=Sniper Pod > U.S. Air Force > Fact Sheet Display}}</ref> Advanced sensors and image processing incorporating image stabilization enable targets to be identified at ranges which minimize exposure to defensive enemy systems. The dual-mode laser offers an eye-safe mode for urban combat and training operations along with a laser-guided bomb designation laser.

The pod's FLIR allows observation and tracking through smoke and clouds, and in low light / no light conditions. The CCD camera supports the same operations in visible light for most daylight conditions. 

For target coordination with ground and air forces, a laser spot tracker, a laser marker, and an HDTV quality video down-link to ground-based controllers supports rapid target detection and identification. The Sniper can also provide high-resolution imagery for non-traditional [[Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance]] (NTISR) missions without occupying the centerline station on small fighter aircraft, and can maintain surveillance even when the aircraft maneuvers. As a result, a second, dedicated fighter aircraft isn't needed to provide protection to a dedicated ISR aircraft, which many small nations cannot afford.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/Sniper/mfc-sniper-atp-feature-stories.html|title=Sniper ATP: Feature Stories · Lockheed Martin|date=23 July 2019}}</ref>

For ease of maintenance, Sniper's optical bed design, partitioning, and diagnostic capabilities permit two-level maintenance, eliminating costly intermediate-level support. Automated built-in testing allows maintenance personnel to isolate and replace a [[line replaceable unit]] in under 20 minutes to restore full mission-capable status.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

==In use==
[[Image:B-1B Lancer carrying the Sniper pod.jpg|thumb|A [[B-1 Lancer|B-1B Lancer]] carrying the Sniper pod (Front section)]]

In August 2001, the [[U.S. Air Force]] announced Lockheed Martin's Sniper as the winner of the Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) competition. The contract provides for pods and associated equipment, spares and support of the F-16 and F-15E aircraft for the entire force, active-duty Air Force and Air National Guard. The U.S. Air Force initial seven-year contract for Sniper ATP has potential value in excess of $843 million. The Sniper ATP has delivered over 125 pods and the U.S. Air Force plans to procure at least 522 Sniper ATPs. The follow-on Advanced Targeting Pod - Sensor Enhancement (ATP-SE) contract was split between the Lockheed Martin Sniper and the [[LITENING]].

In 2014, the USAF declared initial operational capability for the Sniper ATP-SE which included sensor and networking improvements.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/press-releases/2014/march/mfc-031704-us-air-force-declares-initial-capability.html |title= U.S. Air Force Declares Initial Operational Capability for Lockheed Martin's Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod – Sensor Enhancement |date=17 March 2014 |website=www.lockheedmartin.com |publisher=Lockheed Martin |access-date=17 March 2014}}</ref>

The Sniper is used on the U.S. Air Force [[B-52H Stratofortress]],<ref name=lockheed1000>[https://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/Sniper.html (22 September 2015) Sniper Pod] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040345/https://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/Sniper.html |date=2017-12-01 }} accessdate=2017-11-28</ref> [[B-1B Lancer]], [[F-15E Strike Eagle]], [[F-16 Fighting Falcon]], and [[A-10 Thunderbolt II]]. It was also used on the British [[BAE Harrier II|Harrier GR9]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baesystems.com/Newsroom/NewsReleases/autoGen_10741183645.html|title=SNIPER CONTRACT A HIT FOR UK HARRIER}}</ref> and the Canadian [[CF-18 Hornet]].<ref>{{citation |publisher=[[Jane's Defence Weekly]] |first=Caitlin |last=Harrington |title= Interview: Michael Wynne, US Secretary of the Air Force |date=March 28, 2007}}</ref> In 2016 Lockheed Martin announced that Kuwait would be the first country to use Sniper on the Eurofighter Typhoon.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.defenseworld.net/news/17209/Lockheed_Martin_Sniper_Targeting_Pods_For_Kuwaiti_Eurofighter_Typhoons |title=Lockheed Martin Sniper Targeting Pods For Kuwaiti Eurofighter Typhoons |date=28 September 2016 |website=www.defenseworld.net |publisher=Defense World |access-date=28 September 2016}}</ref> A team of [[Lockheed Martin UK]], [[BAE Systems]] and [[Leonardo S.p.A.]] (Selex S&AS at the time) has successfully demonstrated and flown a Sniper ATP on board a [[Tornado GR4]] combat aircraft.<ref name="tornado">{{cite web|url=http://www.lockheedmartin.co.uk/news/317.html|title=Lockheed Martin uk demonstrates Sniper advanced targeting pod on board tornado gr4|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531032947/http://www.lockheedmartin.co.uk/news/317.html|archive-date=2008-05-31}}</ref>

The Sniper came under fire in 2014 in the aftermath of a [[2014 Gaza Valley airstrike|deadly airstrike in Afghanistan]] that saw five American and one Afghan soldier killed when a B-1B bomber equipped with the pod could not detect the infrared strobe lights on the helmets of U.S. troops in a firefight, resulting in the deadliest case of [[friendly fire]] between American forces in the course of the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan War]].<ref name="Washington Post 2014">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2014/09/04/investigation-friendly-fire-airstrike-that-killed-u-s-special-forces-was-avoidable/|title=Investigation: Friendly fire airstrike that killed U.S. Special Forces was avoidable|date=2014-09-04|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2018-02-01}}</ref> 

On 27 March 2015, Lockheed Martin was awarded a sole-source contract by the US DOD worth $485 million firm fixed price with minimal cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity to provide multiple Sniper advanced targeting pods to the USAF.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/atp.htm|title=Sniper XR ATP - Advanced Targeting Pod - Smart Weapons|first=John|last=Pike}}</ref>

In 2024, the [[Ministry of National Defense (Republic of China)|Ministry of National Defense]] released footage confirming that the [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F16V]] fighter of the [[Republic of China Air Force]] used the pod to calibrate the [[Shenyang J-16|J-16D]] and [[Xi'an H-6|H-6K]] invading ADIZ.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202405260090.aspx|title=空軍披露F-16V狙擊手莢艙標定殲16畫面 學者推測共機渾然不知|date=26 May 2024 }}</ref>

==Operators==

;{{Flag|Belgium}}
*[[Belgian Air Force]]<ref name="india defence">{{cite web|url=http://www.india-defence.com/reports-3193|title=Lockheed Martin To Supply ATP's for Pakistan Air Force F-16s - India Defence|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517132432/http://www.india-defence.com/reports-3193|archive-date=2007-05-17}}</ref>
;{{Flag|Canada}}
*[[Royal Canadian Air Force]]<ref name="india defence" />
;{{Flag|Egypt}}
*[[Egyptian Air Force]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Egypt purchases Sniper ATP |url=https://www.f-16.net/f-16-news-article4438.html |website=F-16.net |access-date=28 June 2022}}</ref>
;{{Flag|Greece}}
*[[Hellenic Air Force]]
;{{Flag|Indonesia}}
*[[Indonesian Air Force]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jakarta |first=U. S. Embassy |date=2017-04-21 |title=Commercial Deliverables for Commercial Signing Ceremony |url=https://id.usembassy.gov/commercial-deliverables-commercial-signing-ceremony/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Indonesia |language=en-US}}</ref>
;{{Flag|Iraq}}
*[[Iraqi Air Force]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Delalande |first1=Arnaud |title=Iraqi Air Power Reborn: The Iraqi air arms since 2004 |date=2016 |publisher=Harpia Publishing |location=Houston |isbn=978-0-9854554-7-7 |page=22}}</ref>
;{{Flag|Japan}}
*[[Japan Air Self Defence Force]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/choutatsu/seifu/iken/130802.html|title=航空自衛隊：ターゲティング・ポッドの機種決定について|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927111045/http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/choutatsu/seifu/iken/130802.html|archive-date=2013-09-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Eric|first=Hehs|date=2015-11-12|title=Japan's F-2 Support Fighter|url=https://www.codeonemagazine.com/article.html?item_id=185|access-date=2020-08-05|website=CODE ONE}}</ref>
;{{Flag|Jordan}}
*[[Royal Jordanian Air Force]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2013/06/05/lockheeds-global-arms-sales-buoyed-by-deals-with-jordan-finland/|title=Lockheed's global arms sales boosted: Lockheed's global arms sales buoyed by deals with Jordan, Finland|date=5 June 2013 }}</ref>
;{{Flag|Morocco}}
*[[Royal Moroccan Air Force]]<ref>{{harvnb|Cooper|2018|page=IV}}</ref>
;{{Flag|Netherlands}}
*[[Royal Netherlands Air Force]]
;{{Flag|Norway}}
*[[Royal Norwegian Air Force]]<ref name="india defence" />
;{{Flag|Oman}}
*[[Royal Air Force of Oman]]<ref name="india defence" />
;{{Flag|Pakistan}}
*[[Pakistan Air Force]]<ref name="india defence" />
;{{Flag|Poland}}
*[[Polish Air Force]]<ref name="india defence" />
;{{Flag|Romania}}
*[[Romanian Air Force]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=284856b0596b8c5fbfb1afc874e69d97&tab=core&tabmode=list&=|title=ROMANIA AND THAILAND (FMS) SNIPER ADVANCED TARGETING PODS (ATP) - Federal Business Opportunities: Opportunities}}</ref>
;{{Flag|Saudi Arabia}}
*[[Royal Saudi Air Force]]<ref name="saudi supplementation">{{cite web|url=http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/saudis-seek-sniper-atp-supplementation-for-f-15s-04401/#more|title=Saudis Seek Sniper ATP Supplementation for F-15S}}</ref>
;{{Flag|Singapore}}
*[[Republic of Singapore Air Force]]<ref name="saudi supplementation" />
;{{Flag|South Korea}}
*[[Republic of Korea Air Force]]<ref>{{cite web |title=120th Fighter Squadron (RoKAF) |url=https://www.f-16.net/units_article390.html |website=F-16.net |access-date=28 June 2022}}</ref>
;{{Flag|Taiwan}}
*[[Republic of China Air Force]]
;{{Flag|Thailand}}
*[[Royal Thai Air Force]]
;{{Flag|Turkey}}
*[[Turkish Air Force]]<ref>{{cite web |title=181 Filo (TUAF) |url=https://www.f-16.net/units_article245.html |website=F-16.net |access-date=28 June 2022}}</ref>
;{{Flag|United Arab Emirates}}
*[[United Arab Emirates Air Force]]<ref>{{harvnb|Cooper|2018|page=III}}</ref>
;{{UK}}
*[[Royal Air Force]]<ref name="india defence" />
;{{Flag|United States}}
*[[United States Air Force]]<ref name="india defence" />

==Specifications==
*Primary function: Positive identification, automatic tracking and laser designation<ref name=spec>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/dam/lockheed/data/mfc/pc/sniper-pod/mfc-sniper-pc.pdf|title=Locheed Martin Sniper pdf file|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014094741/http://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/dam/lockheed/data/mfc/pc/sniper-pod/mfc-sniper-pc.pdf|archive-date=2013-10-14|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Prime contractor: Lockheed Martin<ref name=spec/>
*Length: {{Convert|98.2|in|cm|abbr=on}}<ref name=spec/>
*Diameter: {{Convert|11.9|in|cm|abbr=on}}<ref name=spec/>
*Weight: {{Convert|446|lb|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name=spec/>
*Aircraft: Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle, General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, Rockwell B-1B Lancer, Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet, Harrier,<ref name=spec/> Panavia Tornado GR4,<ref name="tornado" /> KAI T-50 Golden Eagle, Mitsubishi F-2, Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale{{cn|date=June 2022}}
*Sensors: Mid-wave third generation [[forward looking infrared]], dual mode eye-safe, [[laser designator]], [[Charge-coupled device]]-TV, laser spot tracker and [[laser designator]]<ref name=spec/>
*Date deployed: January 2005<ref name=spec/>

==See also==
{{Portal|Electronics|Aviation}}
* [[AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR]]
* [[List of military electronics of the United States]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last1=Cooper |first1=Tom |title=Hot Skies Over Yemen, Volume 2: Aerial Warfare Over Southern Arabian Peninsula, 1994-2017 |date=2018 |publisher=Helion & Company Publishing |location=Warwick, UK |isbn=978-1-911628-18-7}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod}} 
* [http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/Sniper.html Lockheed Martin's Sniper Pod page] {{Webarchive |url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131014094744/http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/Sniper.html |date=October 14, 2013}}
* [http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/news/channel_awst_story.jsp?id=news/10044top.xml ''Aviation Week & Space Technology'' - "Sniper Targeting Pod Attacks From Long Standoff Ranges" (October 3, 2004)] {{Webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20041009204412/http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/news/channel_awst_story.jsp?id=news/10044top.xml |date=October 9, 2004}}
* [http://www.ibcadvancedalloys.com/news/2015/09/09/2015/ibc-engineered-materials-awarded-hard-tooling-contract-for-lockheed-martin-s-sniper-advanced-targeting-pod-components/ IBC Advanced Alloys press release (September 9, 2015)] {{Webarchive |url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150910111226/http://www.ibcadvancedalloys.com/news/2015/09/09/2015/ibc-engineered-materials-awarded-hard-tooling-contract-for-lockheed-martin-s-sniper-advanced-targeting-pod-components/ |date=September 10, 2015}}

{{Lockheed Martin}}

[[Category:Targeting pods]]
[[Category:Military electronics of the United States]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 2000s]]
[[Category:Lockheed Martin aircraft]]
[[Category:Global Positioning System]]
[[Category:Equipment of the United States Air Force]]