Full-colour video enhances Litening
A Targeting Pod So Advanced, It Can See The Future. (Photo: Northrop Grumman)
USAF Reserve and Air National Guard F-16s fly with upgraded targeting pods.
Upgraded Litening advanced targeting pods with full-colour and digital video capability have been rolled out for the first time, manufacturer Northrop Grumman announced on 4 May.
The targeting pods were fielded with the USAF Reserve and Air National Guard, giving F-16 pilots an 'unprecedented level of situational awareness and targeting certainty', the company claimed.
Litening is an EO/IR sensor system for targeting and surveillance that enables aircrews to detect, acquire, identify and track targets at long ranges.
The pods are built with a modular design and so can be upgraded to the colour configuration.
The upgrade also delivers the ability to record simultaneous video feeds from all sensors for post-mission analysis, automatic laser code display and an eye-safe mode that allows for more realistic training while using the laser.
Northrop Grumman VP James Conroy said that the Litening pod 'can display up to three different views simultaneously, allowing operators to see colour and infrared video side by side, and in different fields of view'.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![DSEI 2025: The fighter market shift to Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T)]()
DSEI 2025: The fighter market shift to Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T)
Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) capabilities is set to become a market differentiator for fighter aircraft, allowing 4.5-5th generation platforms to remain relevant to the battlefield.
-
![Finland secures possible $1.07 billion AMRAAM deal with US State Department]()
Finland secures possible $1.07 billion AMRAAM deal with US State Department
The Nordic country is set to bolster its defence capabilities after its foreign military sales request for AIM-120D-3 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAMs) was approved.
-
![DSEI 2025: UK launches Project Octopus to deliver thousands of interceptor drones to Ukraine]()
DSEI 2025: UK launches Project Octopus to deliver thousands of interceptor drones to Ukraine
The programme will work to build and deploy the drones to Ukraine to support its fight against Russia, coming a day after Poland shot down 19 Russian drones in its airspace.
-
![DSEI 2025: NATO members evaluate Black Widow UAV as it joins NSPA catalogue]()
DSEI 2025: NATO members evaluate Black Widow UAV as it joins NSPA catalogue
The addition of Red Cat’s Black Widow to NATO’s NSPA catalogue opens the doors for allied forces to more easily procure the AI-enabled drone.
