LITENING Advanced Targeting Systems for Finnish Forces

Northrop Grumman, ROLLING MEADOWS: Northrop Grumman Corporation has received a contract to deliver Litening Advanced Targeting (AT) systems to the Finnish Air Force (FiAF) for its F-18 Mid-life Update 2 Program. 
 
Under the terms of the $30 million contract, Northrop Grumman's Defensive Systems Division will deliver 10 Litening AT systems to the FiAF under the U.S. Government Foreign Military Sales program beginning in late 2008 and continuing through 2009. 
 
“With this contract award, Finland joins a growing number of international allies who have procured the Litening AT system after a comprehensive, in-depth competitive analysis that reviewed applicable targeting pods in use by the U.S. armed forces. We welcome the addition of the FiAF to the expanding global community of Litening AT users,'' said Mike Lennon, vice president of Targeting and Surveillance programs for Northrop Grumman's Defensive Systems Division. “Litening AT offers advanced technology, unique features, high reliability and proven worldwide support, coupled with a demonstrated ability to easily integrate emerging technologies, all at a very competitive price and delivery schedule.'' 
 
To date, almost 500 Litening pods have been ordered by the FiAF, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Netherlands Air Force, Israeli Air Force, and Italian and Spanish Navies. More than 440 systems have been fielded, the largest number of any advanced targeting and sensor system. Litening AT is combat proven on the AV-8B, A-10, B-52, F-15E, F-16 and F/A-18 aircraft. Together, all variants of the Litening pod have amassed more than 780,000 flight hours, with over 380,000 hours logged under deployed or combat conditions. 
 
Northrop Grumman's Litening AT pod is a self-contained, multi-sensor weapon-aiming system that enables fighter pilots to detect, acquire, auto-track and identify targets for highly accurate delivery of both conventional and precision-guided weapons. Fully integrated to support both air-to-air and air-to-ground engagements, Litening AT currently features advanced image processing for target identification; coordinate generation for GPS weapons; a 640 x 512 pixel forward-looking infrared sensor for effective day and night operations; a 1,024 x 1,024 pixel charge-coupled device television sensor; a dual waveband infrared laser designator and eye-safe laser range finder; a laser spot tracker; an infrared laser marker; and optional air-to-ground video data link and digital video recorder.  
 
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $32 billion global defense and technology company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide.