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The AN/AAQ-28(V) Litening
targeting pod Targeting pods (TGP) are target designation tools used by attack aircraft for identifying targets and guiding precision-guided munition (PGM) such as laser-guided bombs to those targets. The first targeting pods were developed in conjunction with ...
is an advanced precision targeting pod system currently operational with a wide variety of aircraft worldwide. The research and development of the ''Litening'' was first undertaken by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems' Missiles Division in Israel, with subsequent completion of Litening I for use in the Israeli Air Force. Litening significantly increases the combat effectiveness of the aircraft during day, night and under-the-weather conditions in the attack of ground and air targets with a variety of standoff weapons (i.e., laser-guided bombs, conventional bombs and
GPS The Global Positioning System (GPS), originally Navstar GPS, is a Radionavigation-satellite service, satellite-based radionavigation system owned by the United States government and operated by the United States Space Force. It is one of t ...
-guided weapons). The thousandth pod was sold in October 2010.


Features

Litening is an integrated targeting pod that mounts externally to the aircraft. The targeting pod contains a high-resolution, forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor that displays an infrared image of the target to the aircrew; it has a wide field of view search capability and a narrow field of view acquisition/targeting capability of battlefield-sized targets. The pod also contains a CCD camera used to obtain target imagery in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. An on-gimbal inertial navigation sensor establishes line-of-sight and automatic boresighting capability. The pod is equipped with a laser designator for precise delivery of laser-guided munitions. A
laser rangefinder A laser rangefinder, also known as a laser telemeter, is a rangefinder that uses a laser beam to determine the distance to an object. The most common form of laser rangefinder operates on the time of flight principle by sending a laser pulse in ...
provides information for various avionics systems, for example, navigation updates, weapon deliveries and target updates. The targeting pod includes an automatic target tracker to provide fully automatic stabilized target tracking at altitudes, airspeeds and slant ranges consistent with tactical weapon delivery maneuvers. These features simplify the functions of target detection and recognition, and permit attack of targets with precision-guided weapons on a single pass.


Background

The research and development program began at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems' Missiles Division in Israel, with subsequent completion of Litening I for use in the Israeli Air Force. In 1995 Northrop Grumman Corporation teamed with Rafael for further development and sales of the Litening pod, reaching
IOC The International Olympic Committee (IOC; french: link=no, Comité international olympique, ''CIO'') is a non-governmental sports organisation based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is constituted in the form of an association under the Swiss ...
the same year.


Litening II/ER/AT

Northrop Grumman Corporation and Rafael Advanced Defence Systems completed product improvements on the "Basic Pod" including a third generation FLIR, laser marker and software upgrades (Litening II) which was fielded beginning in 1999. Northrop Grumman and Rafael Advanced Defence Systems subsequently replaced the "320x256" FLIR with a latest technology "640x512" FLIR. This pod, known as Litening ER, extended the target detection range and was fielded in 2001. The newest version, Litening AT, is in production and was fielded in 2003. It further extends target detection and recognition ranges, improves the target coordinate generation accuracy, and provides multi-target cueing. Litening AT features a plug-and-play bay configured to accept a wide variety of data-links and recorders. Plug and Play II data-link capability offers increased range, digital data recording and an option to incorporate secure, two-way communications over ultra-high frequency (UHF) radios. Litening's Plug and Play I, introduced in 2003, was the first data-link to be incorporated in a third generation targeting pod.


Litening G4

Litening G4, which began to be delivered to U.S. forces in 2008, added new sensors for improved target identification and other advanced target recognition and identification features. The Litening G4 provides significant enhancements in terms of both recognition range and image quality due to Rafaels' AVP imaging capability. The G4's technologies include a full 1Kx1K forward looking infrared and charge-coupled device, as well as short wave infrared laser imaging sensors, color symbology, tracker improvement and enhanced zoom. The Litening Gen 4 technology and capability is also available in a kit form that allows users to upgrade their currently fielded Litening pods. The Royal Danish Air Force is the first international partner to take delivery of G4 pods. Rafael Advanced Systems announced on the eve of DefExpo 2014 a large order for 150+ Litening targeting pods for the Indian Air Force's combat aircraft fleet. Litening G4 pods have been chosen by the Indian Air Force for its frontline fighter aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-29 and others.


Litening SE

Litening SE provides laser ranging and designation in support of weapon delivery, navigational functions, and recording and data-linking of generated imagery and data. This version includes a Plug-N-Play (PnP) III(TM) digital two-way, data link LRU inside the pod. The pods are being delivered as part of the United States Air Force's Advanced Targeting Pod – Sensor Enhancement (ATP-SE) program.


Litening III

The Litening III, used on the IAF Tejas, Italian Air Force
AMX AMX may refer to: Companies and finance * AMX LLC, a manufacturer of commercial and residential control systems * AMX index (Amsterdam Midkap Index), a stock market index of Euronext Amsterdam * América Móvil (Mexican Stock Exchange ticker symbol ...
, and RAF Typhoon aircraft, also provides still image capture for reconnaissance missions in addition to the targeting capabilities found on other models.


RecceLite / RecceLite XR

A gimballed version of the Litening pod for use on drones such as the Predator B or directly integrated into a manned aircraft, in addition it incorporates multi-spectral cameras and C & XU band communication channels to transmit recon feeds. RecceLite XR incorporates the improvements from the Litening 5 pod.


Litening 5

The Litening 5 is the latest version of the pod introduced in 2019. It improves the resolution of the short and medium-wave infrared cameras and introduces a synthetic aperture radar with a 100 km range. The Litening 5 is being introduced to service on Gripen and Typhoon aircraft.


Future developments

Rafael sees an increased market in the future because of the move to stealth platforms which must have targeting systems built in. In 2013 the company was developing a new model to compete for the F-35 requirement. At present F-35's have the equivalent of a
Lockheed Martin Sniper XR The Lockheed Martin Sniper is a targeting pod for military aircraft that provides positive target identification, autonomous tracking, GPS coordinate generation, and precise weapons guidance from extended standoff ranges. The system has been de ...
called the EOTS (Electro Optical Targeting System) built in and from batch 4 the Advanced EOTS with improved cameras. However, in 2020 the delivery to the Israeli airforce of a prototype F-35I with the EOTS's apertures covered over fueled speculation that the F-35I would incorporate a version of the Litening 5 over the Advanced EOTS upgrade.


General characteristics

Primary function: Navigation and infrared/electro-optical targeting Prime Contractor: Rafael Corporation/Northrop Grumman. Length: 87 in (2.20 m) Diameter: 16 in (0.406 m) Weight: 455 lb (208 kg) Sensors: Infrared detector, CCD-TV camera, eye safe laser rangefinder and laser designator. Sensor resolution (for Litening III): CCD (tv): 1K x 1K, FLIR: 640x480. Date Deployed: February 2000. Unit Cost: $1.4 million.


Aircraft use

* A-10 Thunderbolt II, *
AV-8B The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) AV-8B Harrier II is a single-engine ground-attack aircraft that constitutes the second generation of the Harrier family, capable of vertical or short takeoff and landing (V/STOL). The aircraft is primaril ...
, * B-52H, * F-14A/B/D, * F-15E/D, * F-16 Block 25/30/40/50, * F/A-18A/B/C/D/ E/F, * F-4E AUP, * Sukhoi/HAL Su-30MKI "Flanker-H", * Aero Vodochody L-159 ALCA, * Tornado GR4, *
HAL Tejas The HAL Tejas is an Indian, single engine, delta wing, light multirole fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for t ...
, *
SEPECAT Jaguar The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French jet attack aircraft originally used by the British Royal Air Force and the French Air Force in the close air support and nuclear strike role. It is still in service with the Indian Air Force. Originall ...
* Eurofighter Typhoon, * Saab JAS 39 Gripen, * AMX International AMX, * Northrop F-5, * MIG-21 LanceR A/C of Romanian Air Force.


Operators


Current operators

; *
Brazilian Air Force "Wings that protect the country" , colours = , colours_label = , march = Hino dos Aviadores , mascot = , anniversaries = 22 May (anniver ...
**
AMX AMX may refer to: Companies and finance * AMX LLC, a manufacturer of commercial and residential control systems * AMX index (Amsterdam Midkap Index), a stock market index of Euronext Amsterdam * América Móvil (Mexican Stock Exchange ticker symbol ...
(Rafael Litening III) ** KC-390 Millenium ; * Chilean Air Force **
F-16 The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine Multirole combat aircraft, multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it ...
(Rafael Litening III) ; * Colombian Air Force ** IAI Kfir C10/C12 ; * Czech Air Force **
JAS-39 Gripen The Saab JAS 39 Gripen (; English: '' griffin'') is a light single-engine multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace and defense company Saab AB. The Gripen has a delta wing and canard configuration with relaxed stab ...
(Rafael/Zeiss Optronics Litening III) ; * Royal Danish Air Force **
F-16 The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine Multirole combat aircraft, multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it ...
(Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28(V)8 Litening G4) ; * Finnish Air Force ** McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (Northrop Grumman Litening AT, as part of the MLU 2 upgrade program) ; Litening II Pods supplied by Rafael/
Zeiss Optronik Carl Zeiss (; 11 September 1816 – 3 December 1888) was a German scientific instrument maker, optician and businessman. In 1846 he founded his workshop, which is still in business as Carl Zeiss AG. Zeiss gathered a group of gifted practica ...
joint venture *
German Air Force The German Air Force (german: Luftwaffe, lit=air weapon or air arm, ) is the aerial warfare branch of the , the armed forces of Germany. The German Air Force (as part of the ''Bundeswehr'') was founded in 1956 during the era of the Cold War a ...
** Panavia Tornado (Rafael/Zeiss Optronics Litening probably upgraded to Litening III) ** Eurofighter Typhoon (Rafael/Zeiss Optronics Litening III) ; * Hellenic Air Force ** F-4E AUP ; * Hungarian Air Force **
JAS-39 The Saab JAS 39 Gripen (; English: '' griffin'') is a light single-engine multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace and defense company Saab AB. The Gripen has a delta wing and canard configuration with relaxed stab ...
(Rafael/Zeiss Optronics Litening III) ; *
Indian Air Force The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its complement of personnel and aircraft assets ranks third amongst the air forces of the world. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial w ...
** Sukhoi Su-30 (Rafael Litening III) **
HAL Tejas The HAL Tejas is an Indian, single engine, delta wing, light multirole fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for t ...
(Rafael Litening III, Rafael Litening 4I) ** Dassault Mirage 2000 (Rafael Litening III) ** Mikoyan MiG-29 (Rafael Litening III) ; * Israeli Air Force ** F-15I (Rafael Litening III) ** F-16C/D (Rafael Litening probably upgraded to Litening III) **
F-16I A large number of variants of the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon have been produced by General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and various licensed manufacturers. The details of the F-16 variants, along with major modification programs and der ...
(Litening C4) ; * Italian Air Force **
AMX AMX may refer to: Companies and finance * AMX LLC, a manufacturer of commercial and residential control systems * AMX index (Amsterdam Midkap Index), a stock market index of Euronext Amsterdam * América Móvil (Mexican Stock Exchange ticker symbol ...
(Rafael Litening III) *
Italian Navy "Fatherland and Honour" , patron = , colors = , colors_label = , march = ( is the return of soldiers to their barrack, or sailors to their ship after a ...
** AV-8B+ Harrier (Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28(V)2 Litening II upgraded to Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28(V)4 Litening AT Block 0) ; *
Kazakhstan Air Force , image = Coa vvsrk.svg , image_size = 200px , caption = Emblem of the Kazakh Air Defence Forces , start_date = , country = , allegi ...
**
Su-27 The Sukhoi Su-27 (russian: Сухой Су-27; NATO reporting name: Flanker) is a Soviet-origin twin-engine supermaneuverable fighter aircraft designed by Sukhoi. It was intended as a direct competitor for the large US fourth-generation jet ...
(Rafael Litening III) ; *
Royal Netherlands Air Force , colours = , colours_label = , march = ''Parade March of the Royal Netherlands Air Force'' , mascot = , anniversaries = , equipment ...
**
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine Multirole combat aircraft, multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it ...
(Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28(V)6 Litening AT Block 2) ; *
Portuguese Air Force , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = 1 July , equipment = , equipment_label ...
**
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine Multirole combat aircraft, multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it ...
(Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28(V)6 Litening AT Block 2) ; *
Romanian Air Force The Romanian Air Force (RoAF) ( ro, Forțele Aeriene Române) is the air force branch of the Romanian Armed Forces. It has an air force headquarters, an operational command, five airbases and an air defense brigade. Reserve forces include one ai ...
** MiG-21 LanceR A (Rafael Litening) ** MiG-21 LanceR C (Rafael Litening) ; * Republic of Singapore Air Force **
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine Multirole combat aircraft, multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it ...
(Rafael Litening III) ; * South African Air Force **
JAS-39 The Saab JAS 39 Gripen (; English: '' griffin'') is a light single-engine multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace and defense company Saab AB. The Gripen has a delta wing and canard configuration with relaxed stab ...
(Rafael/Zeiss Optronics Litening III) ; *
Spanish Air Force , colours = , colours_label = , march = Spanish Air and Space Force Anthem , mascot = , anniversaries = 10 December , equipment ...
/ Navy ** AV-8B+ Harrier(Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28(V)2 Litening II upgraded to Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28(V)4 Litening AT Block 0) ** McDonnell Douglas EF-18 Hornet (Rafael/ Litening III) ** Eurofighter Typhoon (tranche 3) (Litening III and V) ; *
Swedish Air Force The Swedish Air Force ( sv, Svenska flygvapnet or just ) is the air force branch of the Swedish Armed Forces. History The Swedish Air Force was created on 1 July, 1926 when the aircraft units of the Army and Navy were merged. Because of the es ...
**
JAS-39 The Saab JAS 39 Gripen (; English: '' griffin'') is a light single-engine multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace and defense company Saab AB. The Gripen has a delta wing and canard configuration with relaxed stab ...
(Rafael/Zeiss Optronics Litening III) ; * Royal Thai Air Force **
JAS-39 The Saab JAS 39 Gripen (; English: '' griffin'') is a light single-engine multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace and defense company Saab AB. The Gripen has a delta wing and canard configuration with relaxed stab ...
(Rafael/Zeiss Optronics Litening III) ; Litening III RD & EF pods supplied by Ultra Electronics Limited * Royal Air Force ** Eurofighter Typhoon (Rafael/Ultra Electronics Litening III EF) ; * USAF **
Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is a single-seat, twin-turbofan, straight-wing, subsonic attack aircraft developed by Fairchild Republic for the United States Air Force (USAF). In service since 1976, it is named for the Republ ...
(Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28(V)3 Litening ER upgraded to Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28(V)4 Litening AT Block 0) **
Boeing B-52H Stratofortress The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, which has continued to provide support and upgrades. It has been operated by the United States Air ...
(Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28(V)3 Litening ER upgraded to Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28(V)4 Litening AT Block 0) **
McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15E Strike Eagle is an American all-weather multirole strike fighter derived from the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. The F-15E was designed in the 1980s for long-range, high-speed interdiction without relyi ...
(Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28(V)3 Litening ER upgraded to Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28(V)4 Litening AT Block 0) **
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine Multirole combat aircraft, multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it ...
(Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28(V)1 Litening II/AN/AAQ-28(V)2 Litening II/AN/AAQ-28(V)2 Litening II+ upgraded to Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28(V)4 Litening AT Block 0) *
USN The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage of ...
/ USMC ** AV-8B+ Harrier (Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28(V)1 Litening II/AN/AAQ-28(V)2 Litening II/AN/AAQ-28(V)2 Litening II+ upgraded to Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28(V)4 Litening AT Block 0) ** McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28(V)4 Litening AT Block 0) **
Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler The Northrop Grumman (formerly Grumman) EA-6B Prowler is a twin-engine, four-seat, mid-wing electronic-warfare aircraft derived from the A-6 Intruder airframe. The EA-6A was the initial electronic warfare version of the A-6 used by the United S ...
(Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28(V)4 Litening AT Block 0) ; * Venezuelan Air Force **
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine Multirole combat aircraft, multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it ...
(Rafael Litening)


Former operators

; *
Royal Australian Air Force "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...
** F/A-18A/B (Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28 Litening)


Comparable Systems

* Lockheed Martin
Sniper XR The Lockheed Martin Sniper is a targeting pod for military aircraft that provides positive target identification, autonomous tracking, GPS coordinate generation, and precise weapons guidance from extended standoff ranges. The system has been de ...
targeting pod * Thales Damocles * ASELPOD


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Litening Targeting Pod Laser ranging Military electronics of the United States Northrop Grumman Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Targeting pods Military equipment introduced in the 1990s