21 May 2007
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Harrier Support Team
(L-R) sgt Tony Roche, Ed Smallbone, Flt Lt Ben Sargent, Jeff Lucas, Roy Shaw, Tim Golding, wg Crd Paul Wharmby
BAE Systems has been awarded a contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (UK MoD) to integrate Lockheed Martin’s Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod on Harrier and provide Operational Emergency Clearance advice.
The contract award follows a private-venture funded Rapid Technology Insertion (RTI) programme in 2006 that demonstrated the enhanced target identification and weapon delivery capability that could be realised with the integration of the Sniper Pod.
A meeting between BAE Systems, Selex and Lockheed Martin in early September 2006 confirmed the feasibility of a RTI programme. In a compressed programme of hardware and software development, aircraft integration, rig testing and certification, the team conducted the first flight just two months after the first RTI integration meeting.
Harrier Programme Director Nigel Davey commented: “This is a prime example of the UK Defence Industrial Strategy in action. It demonstrates the practical application of rapid prototyping and concurrent engineering in anticipation of formal customer requirements. It is also clear evidence of the Company's readiness to invest in future capability and commitment to support the Customer. The RTI programme has provided a solid foundation for Sniper integration and makes it possible to deliver operational capability in a much shorter timescale than a conventional programme would permit”
BAE Systems test pilot Peter Kosogorin commented: "The performance of the Sniper pod on Harrier was exceptional in terms of resolution, accuracy and stability of the display. The extra features and performance provided by Sniper are a great addition to the Harrier's targeting capability."
BAE Systems’ private venture capital was also used to further develop the solution and give interim clearance advice to enable 41(R) Squadron to conduct operational evaluation trials in less than 4 weeks from receipt of the Request for Quotation. The RTI process enables the Services to exploit technologies as they become available and is an important feature in meeting the demands of Operations where flexibility, responsiveness, time and military effectiveness are key.
