Northrop Grumman,
(ROLLING MEADOWS: Northrop Grumman Corporation has unveiled plans for new fourth generation enhancements to its LITENING AT precision targeting and sensor system currently deployed with the US Air Force Reserve Command, US Air National Guard, US Marine Corps and US Air Force Air Combat Command.
The announcement of planned improvements to the LITENING system occurred during the annual Joint Users Conference recently hosted by Northrop Grumman's Defensive Systems Division in Rolling Meadows, which was attended by more than 200 U.S. military representatives who have first-hand experience as operators and maintainers of the most advanced targeting system in the field.
“The Joint Users Conference is a great forum for the exchange of ideas between our Northrop Grumman technologists and the men and women in the military who count on LITENING to help accomplish their missions,” said Mike Lennon, vice president of targeting and surveillance programs at Northrop Grumman's Defensive Systems Division. “The invaluable feedback we receive from those who rely on LITENING in the field enables us to continually introduce new technical capabilities and other system enhancements to better serve our warfighters.”
The fourth generation version of LITENING, which is currently in development, will feature the most advanced 1024 x 1024 pixels (1k x 1k) forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor for improved target detection and recognition ranges under day/night conditions; new two-way data links and other networking capabilities to enable improved communications between ground-based and airborne forces; new sensors for improved target identification (ID); and other advanced target recognition and identification features. Other product improvements already incorporated into LITENING as part of the fourth generation version include a new 1k charge-coupled device sensor, which provides improved target detection and recognition ranges under daylight conditions.
Northrop Grumman has already begun flight testing of a new target ID sensor, and later this year will test a second ID sensor that features an advanced laser. In addition, the new 1k FLIR sensor will undergo preliminary system tests by year's end as a precursor to flight testing in 2007.
Northrop Grumman's LITENING AT system is a self-contained, multi-sensor laser target-designating and navigation system that enables aircrews to detect, acquire, track and identify ground targets for highly accurate delivery of both conventional and precision-guided weapons. To date, over 400 pods have been ordered with over 360 fielded, the largest number of any advanced targeting and sensor system. It is currently deployed on AV-8B, A-10, B-52, F-15E, F-16 and F/A-18 aircraft. Since the introduction of LITENING in 1999, the system has undergone numerous major upgrades to ensure continued combat relevance in an ever-changing battlespace, with the fourth generation version the next step in that evolution.
