Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is built with the equivalent of the Sniper XR in its onboard sensors called the AN/AAQ-40 Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS).

It offers a 3-5X increase in detection range over the older LANTIRN system [citation needed], and is currently flying on U.S. Air Force and multinational F-16, F-15, B-1B, CF-18, Harrier, A-10, B-52 and Tornado aircraft.

The follow-on Advanced Targeting Pod - Sensor Enhancement (ATP-SE) contract was split between the Lockheed Martin Sniper and the LITENING.

[8] A team of Lockheed Martin UK, BAE Systems and Leonardo S.p.A. (Selex S&AS at the time) has successfully demonstrated and flown a Sniper ATP on board a Tornado GR4 combat aircraft.

[10] On 27 March 2015, Lockheed Martin was awarded a sole-source contract by the US DOD worth $485 million firm fixed price with minimal cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity to provide multiple Sniper advanced targeting pods to the USAF.

[11] In 2024, the Ministry of National Defense released footage confirming that the F16V fighter of the Republic of China Air Force used the pod to calibrate the J-16D and H-6K invading ADIZ.

A Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod hangs from the underbelly of a B-1B Lancer
A Sniper pod on an aircraft's hardpoint.
An F-15E Strike Eagle carrying a Sniper pod (under engine intake).
A B-1B Lancer carrying the Sniper pod (Front section).