Poland signs contract to purchase 34 Sniper pods for its FA-50 fighter jets

The Armament Agency, an organization under the Polish Ministry of Defense, announced on its social networks the signing of a contract for the acquisition of 34 Sniper ATP pods from the American company Lockheed Martin, for an approximate amount of $105 million. The pods will be delivered to Poland between 2024 and 2028.

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Dziś #AgencjaUzbrojenia podpisała umowę z rządem #USA na dostawę w latach 2025-2028 34 zasobników celowniczych #SNIPER za kwotę ok. 105 mln USD. Zostaną zintegrowane z zakupionymi ?? lekkimi samolotami bojowymi FA-50. pic.twitter.com/bqVjyrQ3qJ

— Agencja Uzbrojenia (@AgencjaUzbr) August 18, 2023

The AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP) will be integrated into Polish KAI FA-50 light fighters, the first units of which have already arrived in the country.

In May this year, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) issued a statement in which it reported the possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Poland of these 34 Sniper ATP systems, as well as training, spare parts, consumables and associated equipment, for approximately $124 million. The total value of the purchase was $19 million lower, which could indicate that Poland decided to reduce the scope of the logistics package associated with the Sniper, or some other item specified in the DSCA release.

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Lockheed Martin and Korea Aerospace Industries carried out the integration of the Sniper ATP into the FA-50 in 2021, which improved the sales prospects of both systems.

See also: Poland acquires Swedish Saab 340 AEW airborne early warning and control aircraft

AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod

According to the manufacturer, Sniper ATP is a proven electro-optical targeting system housed in a single lightweight module. It handles the most demanding air-to-air and air-to-ground precision targeting missions, as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions in the ground, maritime and air domains.

Employed by more than 27 international customers and the U.S. Air Force, Sniper ATP is a world leader in its category. More than 1,500 pods have been delivered worldwide. Sniper ATP is interoperable on multiple platforms, including F-2, F-15, F-16, F-18, A-10, B-1, B-52, Harrier and Typhoon aircraft.