Full-colour video enhances Litening
A Targeting Pod So Advanced, It Can See The Future. (Photo: Northrop Grumman)
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: 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.
-
DSEI 2025: Deutsche Aircraft takes aim at special mission market with D328MR
The company plans to offer its D328eco commercial aircraft as a multi-role variant, and spoke to Shephard at DSEI 2025 about its ambitions for the future.
-
DSEI 2025: New AR3 EVO puts Tekever’s modularity ambitions under the spotlight
An evolution of the Tekever AR3, the AR3 EVO that broke cover at DSEI incorporates the thousands of incremental evolutions the company has implemented through its spiral development, geared towards delivering a constant stream of improved aircraft to Ukraine.
-
DSEI 2025: Schiebel reveals two weaponised Camcopter UAVs
The new capabilities are based on platforms already in use or in development, and are designed to perform in demanding defence missions.
-
The Future of Air Defense: IAI-ELTA's Cutting-Edge Multi-Sensor Radar Solutions
In an era of rapidly evolving threats, where drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic salvos redefine the battlefield, IAI‑ELTA Group stands at the forefront with its revolutionary radar technology. At the heart of this technological leap lies the ELM-2084 Multi‑Mission Radar (MMR) and its latest evolution, the Multi‑Sensor MMR (MS-MMR).
-
DSEI 2025: GCAP Electronics Evolution emerges as new consortium for 6th-gen programme
The consortium, known as G2E, is formed of four leading national defence electronics companies: Mitsubishi for Japan, Leonardo UK for the UK and both Leonardo and ELT Group for Italy.