Lockheed Martin has received a contract from the US Air Force (USAF) to supply spares for the Royal Saudi Air Force's (RSAF) F-15 sensor suite.

Valued at $67.3m, the contract requires the company to produce LANTIRN extended range (ER) navigation pod spares, infrared search and track (IRST) system spares and sniper advanced targeting pod (ATP) spares.

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Fire Control / SOF CLSS vice-president Paul Lemmo said, "Our sustainment operations ensure critical availability and performance rates for the RSAF's suite of LANTIRN ER, IRST and Sniper ATP systems.

"Spares production will continue these efforts, successfully maintaining the sensor suite for years to come."

The LANTIRN ER pods provide low-level navigation with terrain-following radar on international F-15 and F-16 aircraft during day or night.

Currently in service with F-15 customers globally, IRST passive sensor system uses infrared search and track technology to detect and track airborne threats with weapon-quality accuracy, increasing pilot reaction time and improving survivability.

The Sniper ATP is a precision targeting system with two-colour laser spot tracking, Global Scope software / advanced NTISR modes and short-wave infrared.

"Spares production will continue these efforts, successfully maintaining the sensor suite for years to come."

Work under the contract will be carried out at the company's facilities in Orlando and Ocala, Florida, and Santa Barbara, California, US.

Delivery of spare parts will begin in 2018.

The F-15 Strike Eagle is a dual-role tactical aircraft that is capable of carrying electronic warfare, reconnaissance equipment, side-looking radar, and jamming equipment.

Image: F-15 Eagle with AIM-120B and AIM-9M missiles. Photo: courtesy of US Air Force.