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AMIRS Pod  –  CF-18 Modernization  –  DND/CF News Release  –  April 2006 Dep't of National Defence / Canadian Forces  News Release CF-18 AMIRS  Targeting Pod  –  the  Lockheed Martin  Sniper Update:  The AMIRS contract award was challenged  before the CITT  (Canadian International Trade Tribunal ) which recommended re-evaluation of  proposals by challenger Northrop Grumman,  AMIRS winner  Lockheed Martin, and  Raytheon. In 1998, Canada purchased nine AN/AAS-38B NITE Hawk laser targeting pods to allow the CF-18 to deliver precision guided  munitions. (Three more pods were  later bought as spares). The NITE Hawk is carried on the CF-18's portside 'shoulder' station (right).  The AAS-38B  was used  during OP Echo, NATO's bombing campaign in the Balkans when CF-18s flew from Aviano, Italy against targets first in Kosovo, then in Serbia itself. The NITE Hawk was an obvious choice at the time. A small number of early model AAS-38s had been trialed by US Navy F/A-18s during the first Gulf War. And the NITE Hawk was considered one of the better  'second-generation'  targeting pods. However,  the next generation of  precision-guided  munitions required a new pod. As part of  the CF-18  Incremental Modern- ization Program, the CF began looking for a new  Advanced Multi-Role Infrared Sensor or AMIRS to replace the AAS-38. The plan was to buy  40 to 50 of  these new targeting pods with  Request for Proposals by January 2006 and  contracts signed  by July. The new AMIRS pod was to be in CF service by summer of 2006 but  the delivery date slipped  to July 2007 while the AMIRS  Project Office worked on the Request for Proposal. Bidders were Raytheon with the Advanced Targeting Forward Look- ing Infrared pod,  Northrop Grumman with the Litening AT (Advanced Targeting) system (a development of  the Israeli Rafael Litening pod ), and  Lockheed Martin with the winning AMIRS system contender, the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod. Lockheed Martin's  AMIRS pod  is variously known as the Sniper XR or, for export, [2] the Pantera.  The Sniper system combines laser targeting/ranging with both thermal and daylight camera imaging. The latter allows AMIRS to be used for reconnaissance as well as precision strike missions (the former has interesting implications for UAV use). The Sniper pod was tested on a US Navy Hornet in 2004 using the AAS-38 NITE Hawk interface. Integrating AMIRS into the modernized CF-18s should, therefore, present no major hurdles or further delays in CF service entry for the AMIRS pod. The content of the 30 March 2007  DND / CF News Release  is reproduced below. DND/Canadian Forces News Release Contract Signed for CF-18  Advanced Multi-Role Infrared Sensor  [ AMIRS ] NR–07.017 - 30 March 2007 OTTAWA  –   The Honourable Gordon O'Connor,  Minister of  National Defence, announced today the contract award for the CF-18 Advanced Multi-Role Infrared Sensor (AMIRS) project.  This contract  is part of  the larger  CF-18 modernization project, initiated in 2001, to ensure that Canada has a state-of-the-art CF-18 fighter force that remains modern, effective and operationally credible. "The Advanced Multi-Role Infrared Sensor is a key component of CF-18 modern- ization and another example of  how defence procurement has been streamlined to ensure a competitive, fair, open, and transparent process," said Minster O'Connor. "It also once again reflects this Government's commitment to deliver the best value for Canadian taxpayers while also ensuring that the men and women of the Canadian Forces receive the right equipment and capabilities they need to do the demanding jobs asked of them, and that they have it when they need it." "We are supporting Canadian troops and promoting Canada's interest by purch- asing modern equipment for the Canadian Forces as quickly and as efficiently as possible," said Micheal M. Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada. The Advanced Multi-Role Infrared Sensor  is a targeting pod  that  is mounted on the weapons station of  the CF-18. It is a state of  the art electro-optic and infrared sensor, which includes a laser designator, a laser [target] marker and a tactical data link capability. "The AMIRS pod will provide the CF-18 with enhanced targeting as well as intelli- gence, surveillance and  reconnaissance capabilities that make it an invaluable asset for the Canadian Forces' air, land and sea operations," said Chief of the Air Staff,  Lieutenant-General  Steve Lucas. "The modernized, combat-effective, multi- purpose and  globally deployable  CF-18 fleet  will  continue to play  an  important role over the next decade as the Air Force transforms to meet the 21st century security needs of Canada." The contract was awarded  to Lockheed Martin  following  a competitive procure- ment  process.  The total contract value is estimated at $126 million [ $200M is the Lockheed Martin estimate],  which includes  $101 million for the acquisition of  36 AMIRS pods and  $25 million for  in-service support through to 2020. Canada will take delivery of  the first AMIRS pod  in the spring of  2007,  with an initial opera- tional capability delivered by April 2008. The Full Economic Benefits Policy applies to this contract, meaning that Lockheed Martin will generate one dollar of economic activity in Canada for every dollar it receives from the contract. "This is another example of how the Government of Canada is leveraging defence procurements, not only providing the equipment our Canadian Forces need, but also providing real opportunities for Canadian industry," said the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry. The  CF-18  is  Canada's   multi-purpose,  high-performance,   twin-engine  tactical fighter  jet.  Its  primary roles  include  air defence,  training,  close air support  and offence counter-air. [1] The 'NITE' in NITE Hawk stands for Navigation Infrared Targeting Equipment. As the name suggests, was used  both for navigating at low-altitude and  to laser- designate targets for precision-guided weapons ( Paveway bombs and AGM-65G Maverick missiles. NITE Hawks were produced by Loral which became Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control division by the time the pods were in CF service. [2] Besides Canada, the Sniper pod has been purchased by the US, UK, Norway, Belgium, Poland, Singapore, and  Oman. The Royal Norwegian Air Force adopted the pod in 2003, demonstrating it in Canada during Maple Flag exercises. Britain's RAF bought Snipers as  Urgent Operational Requirements for their Harrier GR9s.