Lockheed Martin received a direct commercial sale contract from the United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defense (AFAD) for expedited delivery of Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP), spares, and upgrades. The company says that this contract marks the first integration of Sniper ATP on the Mirage 2000 aircraft.

UAE's fleet includes 43 multirole Mirage 2000-9/EAD/RAD and 14 conversion trainer Mirage 2000-9D/DAD Picture source: Wikipedia) (Picture source: Wikipedia)

UAE's fleet includes 43 multirole Mirage 2000-9/EAD/RAD and 14 conversion trainer Mirage 2000-9D/DAD. The air force units operating the Mirage 2000s are the 71st Fighter Squadron (Mirage 2000-9EAD/DAD), the 76th Fighter Squadron (Mirage 2000-9EAD/DAD) and the 86th Fighter Squadron (Mirage 2000-9EAD/DAD from Al Safran Air Base).

Deliveries of Sniper ATPs and spares will support the UAE AFAD's requirement to provide precision targeting capability for their existing Mirage 2000 fleet. UAE AFAD currently employs Sniper ATP on its F-16 Block 60 aircraft. "The additional Sniper ATPs and upgrades will enhance the UAE AFAD's precision targeting capability," said Kenen Nelson, Fixed Wing Programs director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

Chosen by over 27 international customers and the U.S. Air Force, Sniper ATP is a global leader in precision targeting and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. More than 1,450 pods have been delivered worldwide. Sniper ATP detects, identifies, automatically tracks, and laser designates small tactical targets at long ranges. It also supports the employment of laser- and GPS-guided weapons against multiple fixed and moving targets. Sniper ATP is interoperable across multiple platforms, including U.S. Air Force and multinational F-2, F-15, F-16, F-18, A-10, B-1, B-52, Harrier, and Typhoon aircraft.