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The US Navy has completed initial flight testing of the Northrop Grumman LITENING targeting pod on the fleet’s F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet aircraft.
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The successful flight test of the LITENING targeting pod marks a major step towards the large-scale integration into the US Navy’s fleet operations.
As part of the tests, the electro-optical/infrared pods are put through a set of demanding manoeuvers representative of operational scenarios to ensure the survivability of the pods in demanding maritime environments and aboard aircraft carriers.
LITENING is an electro-optical/infrared targeting pod that detects, acquires, identifies and tracks targets at extended ranges. It enables a wide range of missions, including precision targeting, air superiority, close air support, surveillance and humanitarian assistance.
The pod’s modular design allows for upgrades over time to keep pace with evolving mission needs and threat environments.
Following the initial test flight in September 2022, James Conroy, vice president of navigation, targeting and survivability at Northrop Grumman, said at the time: “The pod’s digital video, autonomous target tracking, and laser sensors will give Naval aviators an entirely new set of capabilities for operations over land and sea today, and the growth capabilities built into LITENING’s modular design ensure that the pod can evolve to meet changing requirements.”
LITENING’s daylight and infrared sensors provide high-definition video in multiple wavelengths to deliver a decisive advantage in surveillance and targeting missions.
Designed as a self-contained system, the LITENING pod carries the onboard processing power necessary to provide superior situational awareness, allowing for the simplified integration into aircraft. It is supported by a digital back end that allows for flexibility in meeting platform-specific requirements.
Northrop Grumman’s LITENING is currently in service with the Marine Corps, Air Force, Air National Guard, and international customers across a range of aircraft, including the AV-8B, F/A-18, A-10, B-52, C-130, F-15 and F-16. To date, Northrop Grumman has delivered more than 900 LITENING pods.
