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The prime’s widely deployed targeting pod has been put to the test on the Boeing-built multi-role fighter jet for the first time.
Northrop Grumman’s Litening targeting pod has completed its first test flights on the US Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, as part of its work to replace the legacy system.
Litening is built to support a number of mission types, including precision targeting, close air support, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and humanitarian assistance.
The flight test involved manoeuvres and operations resembling combat missions, including ground-moving target tracking, air-to-air tracking and target designation.
Pilots also reportedly engaged the eye-safe training laser mode, designed to enable the pod to be deployed for realistic training with combat controllers on the ground.
According to Northrop Grumman, the pilots were able to execute the operations without advance training, demonstrating the “ease of use” made possible by close collaboration with the aviation community.
“This first flight demonstrated Litening’s ability to rapidly add modern, upgradeable mission capabilities to the Super Hornet,” James Conroy, vice president, navigation, targeting and survivability, Northrop Grumman, said.
“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 advanced targeting pods reportedly have more than three million operational hours and over one million hours in combat.
Over approximately 20 years of service, Litening has delivered an availability rate greater than 95 per cent.
The technology is currently in service with the Marine Corps, Air Force, Air National Guard and a number of international customers.
[Related; Northrop Grumman Australia demonstrates AIR6500 offering]
