ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 10 (UPI) — Lockheed Martin is to integrate its Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod onto Japan’s F-2 fighter aircraft.
The work comes through a direct commercial sales contract from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, its partner and prime contractor in the manufacture of the aircraft, which will work with Lockheed Martin on the project.
“Sniper ATP’s proven performance and low life-cycle cost will provide necessary support to the JASDF mission,” said Marc Nazon, Sniper international program manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “Integrating Sniper ATP on the F-2 also enables increased collaboration in U.S. Air Force and JASDF joint combat operations.”
JASDF is an acronym for Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
Sniper ATP provides pilots with high-resolution imagery for precision targeting, as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. It can detect, identify, track and laser-designate small targets, supporting the use of laser-guided and GPS-guided weapons.
Lockheed Martin said it expects follow-on contracts for additional pods, spares and logistics.
The value of the contract was not disclosed.
Lockheed received an initial award for a Sniper pod from Mitsubishi in 2014.
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