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ORAC
11th Oct 2016, 05:43
Kuwaiti Typhoons to receive Sniper pods (http://www.c4isrnet.com/articles/kuwaiti-typhoons-to-receive-sniper-pods)

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract to provide Sniper advanced targeting pods for Eurofighter Typhoons used by Kuwait.

Under a contract with the Aircraft division of Leonardo-Finmeccanica, one of the consortium that produces the Typhoon, Lockheed Martin will supply 18 pods for Kuwaiti Typhoons, plus integration and logistics support, according to a Lockheed Martin news release.

"This contract marks the start of a successful relationship with the Eurofighter consortium to provide critical targeting capability worldwide," said Ken Fuhr, director of fixed-wing programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "As a new Sniper ATP user, the Kuwait Air Force will see significant targeting benefits, including high-resolution imagery, advanced targeting modes, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities."

Pod deliveries will begin in 2017.

Glaaar
11th Oct 2016, 13:56
I'm sure LM is pleased but given the sole competitive choice is the (Israeli) LITENING-G4/G5, this is not entirely unpredicted, given the only other competitors (Terminator/ATFLIR) and Damocles are at least two generations back.

It remains to be seen however if the Kuwaitis will get the full ATP-SE with the multispectral imager in the 2,000+ detector count, the laser target silhouette mapper or the enhanced A2A/Maritime (pseudo IRST) modes plus imbedded datalink.

To put this in perspective: While nominally of the same component heritage, Sensor Enhancement on the Sniper is about 1 generation ahead of the AAQ-40 EOTS on the F-35.

Luk at duh pretee pikichur...
https://www.eurofighter.com/files/thumbs/full/1%20A%20-%20Kuwait%20image.jpg