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According to the Pentagon, Raytheon was awarded a $325 million contract for repair of the F/A-18 Super Hornet’s Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) system for the US Navy on Tuesday. The ATFLIR provides navigation and targeting to military aircraft operating in adverse conditions.
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The ATFLIR is a multi-sensor electro-optical targeting pod that is also capable of assisting with delivery of precision-guided munitions such as laser-guided bombs.
The infrared system integrates advanced EO and IR sensors with one of the most powerful lasers on the market. ATFLIR can locate and designate targets at ranges exceeding 40 nautical miles (day or night) and altitudes surpassing 15 kilometres.
As an integrated net-enabler, it can pass tracking and targeting information to other nodes in the networked battlespace with the speed and precision.
The streamlined ATFLIR integrates laser tracking and infrared targeting functions on F/A-18 aircraft into a single compact pod, freeing an air-to-air weapon station for other mission requirements. An IR marker has been inserted and integrated on ATFLIR and will enter production soon.
ATFLIR is in full-rate production, and is fully integrated and flight tested on all F/A-18 models. According to Raytheon, battlespace advantages include:
- A substantial increase in target detection/recognition range;
- Pinpoint accuracy and assessment from longer stand-off ranges;
- The most advanced laser designation capability; and
- Superior EO/IR imagery.
The system forms a critical node in FORCEnet, the US military initiative designed to pursue "the fully-network battlespace of the future". The program focuses on improving the human element of warfighting through increased interoperability.
"By creating one warfighting system, employable anytime, anywhere, we will reduce the burden of analysis for commanders and distribute that burden among all participants," said Rear Admiral Andy Singe, FORCEnet director.
Raytheon said that upgrades are planned to ATFLIR include:
- EO camera and laser spot tracker improvements;
- Detection range increases;
- Electronics consolidation;
- Sensor fusion; and
- Automatic target recognition.
