The US State Department has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Poland of Lockheed Martin Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods, the US Defense Security Co-operation Agency announced on 9 May 2023.
The proposed sale, which is worth an estimated USD 124.7 M (EUR 114.8 M), has been forwarded for approval by the US Congress.
Poland has requested to buy 34 AN/AAQ-33 Sniper ATP systems, which it intends to use to improve the tactical effectiveness of the 48 KAI FA-50 light attack aircraft it is buying from South Korea.
Also included in the deal are spares, integration and test equipment, training equipment, and various aspects of programme, logistical, training and technical support.
The Sniper ATP is widely used by the US Air Force and more than 20 US allies. Its capabilities include long-range target detection, identification and continuous stabilised surveillance, allowing targets to be found and destroyed outside the threat ranges of enemy air defence systems. According to Lockheed Martin, the system’s “video datalink capability, superior imagery and weapon-quality co-ordinates also enable pilots to make rapid targeting decisions, improving their survivability”.
Peter Felstead
