Poland’s Purchase of Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods To Add Combat-Proven Capability, Interoperability for New FA-50 Fighters

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Lockheed Martin will deliver Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP) to Poland in a sale the U.S. State Department said will improve the security of a NATO ally that is a “force for political stability.”

The targeting systems for Poland were included in a recently finalized U.S. Foreign Military Sale contract worth $90.68 million to Lockheed Martin. Poland will receive Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods with two-way datalinks, system support and spare parts. 

The targeting-sensor system will be integrated onto Poland’s new FA-50 fighter jets. Lockheed Martin already equips Polish F-16s with Sniper ATPs.

Integration of Sniper ATP will improve the tactical effectiveness of Poland’s FA-50s by enhancing their ability to identify, track, and engage targets from standoff distances.

Sniper ATP also will increase interoperability with U.S. and NATO forces, the U.S. State Department said upon approving the sale in 2023.

Sniper ATP provides pilots with unmatched imagery for precision targeting and non-traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

In the future, the Sniper pods for Poland’s FA-50 and F-16 fighters could be quickly upgraded to a new variant, the Sniper Networked Targeting Pod, which was announced by Lockheed Martin in July.  When enhanced with advanced datalink and radio technology, Sniper pods will enable unprecedented interoperability for 4th Generation aircraft, new F-35 Lightning II fighters, and ground-based artillery systems such as HIMARS.

Lockheed Martin’s ongoing innovation with Sniper is part of the company’s vision for 21st Century Security®, which is integrating networking capabilities and edge computing across customers’ aircraft, sensor systems and weapons.