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Lockheed Martin Delivers Sniper XR Targeting POD to U.S. Air Force

ORLANDO, FL, March 13th, 2003 -- Lockheed Martin ceremonially delivered its Sniper® XRTM's (eXtended Range) Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) to the U.S. Air Force Wednesday in Orlando. Maj. Gen. Donald Wetekam, Commander, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins Air Force Base, Ga. was keynote speaker for the ceremony. "Sniper XR is the targeting pod of the future," Wetekam told an audience of nearly 500. "The advanced technology in the pod lets aircrews detect and identify targets at significantly longer ranges. This considerably reduces the time it takes to locate, identify and kill a target. The increased standoff range will also keep pilots out of reach of threat air defenses. Sniper XR brings a new dimension to the precision attack mission."

The U.S. Air Force selected Lockheed Martin in August 2001 to develop and build the Sniper XR pod for the ATP program. The contract provides for up to 522 pods and associated equipment, spares, and support for both the Air Force and Air National Guard.

"Our recent flight-testing of Sniper XR on the F-16 successfully demonstrates that we are on the right path to operational unit deployment," said Ken Fuhr, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control's Sniper program director. "We will continue to work diligently to meet our customer's Required Assets Availability date later this year."

Sniper XR pods will initially equip the U.S. Air Force's F-16CJ Block 50 aircraft and the Air National Guard's F-16 Block 30 aircraft. Follow-on acquisitions are destined for the F-16 Block 40 and F-15E fleets.

Sniper's superior performance includes exceptional stability, long-range identification of tactical targets, outstanding image processing, and supersonic flight. A precision targeting system in a single, lightweight, affordable pod, Sniper XR is designed for current and future fighter aircraft.

Incorporating a high-resolution, mid-wave 3rd generation FLIR, a dual-mode laser and a CCD-TV along with a laser spot tracker and a laser marker, Sniper vastly improves target detection/ identification. The advanced image processing algorithms, combined with rock-steady stabilization techniques, deliver three times the performance of the best systems in service today.

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control develops, manufactures and integrates world-class air defense, fire support, strike weapon, naval munition, combat vision, anti-armor and advanced product solutions and systems for U.S. and international armed forces.

Nettie Johnson, 407-356-5351
email Nettie.r.Johnson@lmco.com.