Lockheed Martin expands Sniper ATP production in the UK

According to Janes, the new production line at Ampthill will focus primarily on manufacturing cabling essential for integrating the Sniper ATP into various aircraft types. This initiative complements the existing manufacturing activities at Lockheed Martin’s Ocala facility in Florida, enhancing the overall production capacity and efficiency of the Sniper ATP systems.

The Sniper ATP, renowned for its precision targeting and advanced surveillance capabilities, is more than just a targeting system. As described by Lockheed Martin’s spokesperson Kubicek, it also serves critical roles in communications, data gathering, and transmission. These functionalities are becoming increasingly vital as allied nations emphasize multidomain operations and joint all-domain command and control.

Deployed by the U.S. Air Force and over 20 international allies, the Sniper ATP is celebrated for its ability to execute the most challenging missions across air-to-ground, maritime, and air-to-air environments. Its capabilities include long-range target detection, identification, and continuous stabilized surveillance, allowing aircrews to engage targets effectively while remaining outside of enemy threat ranges.

The system is designed with an open mission systems architecture, making it easily adaptable across various aircraft platforms, including variants of the F-15, F-16, F-18, B-1, B-52, A-10, and F-2. This flexibility ensures that the Sniper ATP can swiftly integrate with different air force fleets, maintaining its status as the “targeting pod of choice” for many nations.

Lockheed Martin is committed to continuous improvement of the Sniper ATP’s capabilities to meet both current and future operational requirements. Ongoing enhancements include two-color laser spot tracking and advanced modes for nontraditional intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations.