Dubai Airshow 2015: Lockheed and AEC to support Saudi Arabia F-15 fighters sensor suite

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Dubai Airshow 2015
8 - 12 November 2015
Dubai - Al Maktoum International Airport
 
 
Dubai Airshow 2015: Lockheed and AEC to support Saudi Arabia F-15 fighters sensor suite
 
Lockheed Martin received a $262.8 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for sustainment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s F-15 sensor suite, the US defense giant announced at this year Dubai Airshow. The sensor suite includes Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP), LANTIRN Extended Range (ER) navigation pods and Infrared Search and Track (IRST) systems.
     
Dubai Airshow 2015 Lockheed to support Saudi Arabia F 15 fighters sensor suite 640 001The RSAF received its first upgraded F-15SA fighter aircraft in May 2013
     
Under the contract, Lockheed Martin will collaborate with Advanced Electronics Company (AEC) to perform Sniper ATP and LANTIRN ER sustainment services as well as LANTIRN ER pod upgrades at the Sniper Expanded Repair Capability facility in Saudi Arabia. Lockheed Martin will support IRST sustainment at its IRST depot in Orlando, Florida.

Since 1996, Lockheed Martin has provided the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with its most advanced sensor systems, including Sniper ATP, LANTIRN ER and IRST,” said Paul Lemmo, vice president of fire control/SOF CLSS at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “By leveraging in-Kingdom capabilities, the Royal Saudi Air Force will have its sensors maintained and upgraded to provide unmatched availability and performance for years to come.”

AEC is a Saudi-based company focused on electronics manufacturing, system integration, and repair and maintenance services. Together with the U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin, AEC will complete training and execute specific sustainment efforts, including maintenance on line replaceable units, logistics and upgrades. Sniper ATP is a precision targeting system chosen by the U.S. Air Force and 21 international air forces. IRST is a passive sensor system used by international F-15 customers. LANTIRN ER pods operate day or night, providing low-level navigation with terrain-following radar on international F-15 and F-16 aircraft.

The F-15S is a variant of the F-15E supplied to the Royal Saudi Air Force in the 1990s, 72 were built from 1996 to 1998. The F-15S, initially referred to as F-15XP, is almost identical to the USAF F-15E, the only major difference in the AN/APG-70 radar's performance in synthetic aperture mode. In 2010, Saudi Arabia ordered 84 F-15SA which are to be fitted a modern fly-by-wire flight control system in place of the hybrid electronic/mechanical system used by all previous F-15s. The variant also includes the APG-63(v)3 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, digital electronic warfare systems (DEWS), infrared search and track (IRST) systems, and other advanced systems.