Lockheed Martin delivered its first Precision Attack Navigation and Targeting (PANTERA) pod to the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF), making Norway the first country outside of the United States to receive the world's highest performance, longest range targeting system.

This delivery represented the first of nine targeting pods currently on order for use on Norway's F-16 aircraft.

PANTERA is the export equivalent to the Lockheed Martin Sniper Extended Range (XR) targeting pod. It allows the opportunity to identify tactical targets at greatly improved standoff ranges versus competing targeting systems. Designed with an infrared pointer, laser, day TV, Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR), laser spot tracker, and advanced algorithms, the pod delivers superior tracking performance and reliability to support the RNoAF's critical operational requirements. Designed for true two-level maintenance, PANTERA's superior performance also includes significantly lower life-cycle costs.

"When Norway needed to improve their targeting capability as part of the F-16 mid-life upgrades, they looked around the world for the best and most advanced targeting pod that could provide demanding performance requirements," said Tom Simmons, vice president, Combat Vision Center at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "We were pleased to deliver PANTERA to the RNoAF to meet their defining moments in combat and expect other allied countries to follow Norway's lead."

Sniper XR, the domestic version of PANTERA, has recently received an $18.7 million order to equip the U.S. Air Force with 11 additional Sniper(C) XR(TM) advanced targeting pods (ATP). The award is part of a seven-year ATP contract, with a potential value in excess of $843 million.

The order, including spares, test support, training and depot repair test equipment marks the third purchase of targeting pods by the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard and increases the total number of pods purchases to 56.

"Receipt of this new order demonstrates the Air Force's confidence in the performance and capabilities of Sniper XR," said Ken Fuhr, program director. "The Air Force's investment in organic depot repair test equipment also demonstrates its long-term commitment to the successfully tested Sniper XR and PANTERA program. Our passion for invention has produced the highest performance pod available for the Air Force and the Air National Guard."

Sniper XR recently completed a successful Operational Utility Evaluation (OUE) on the F-15E Strike Eagle Fighter and pre-qualification, test and evaluation (pre-QT&E) flights on the F-16 Block 30 and Block 50 aircraft. Sniper XR began F-16 QT&E flight-testing last October.

Sniper XR's superior performance includes exceptional stability, long- range identification of tactical targets, outstanding image processing and supersonic flight. Sniper XR is a precision targeting system in a single, lightweight, affordable pod, designed for current and future fighter aircraft.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 125,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services.

Website: http://www.lockheedmartin.com

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin