Northrop Grumman Delivers Litening G4 Advanced Targeting Pods

The Northrop Grumman Corporation has completed delivery of the first 50 Litening G4 Advanced Targeting Pods under a $277.8 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract from the U.S. Air Force. Litening G4 has begun full operations at its first military base with seven additional base deployments planned in the near future. Litening G4 and the equivalent ‘Litening Advanced Targeting Pod – Sensor Enhancement’ (ATP-SE) has a full one megapixel (1000×1000) Forward Looking Infrared in addition to the megapixel size Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) sensors and optics already introduced in the earlier Litening AT version, offering wider field of view and enhanced zoom to deliver more accurate target identification and location at longer ranges than previous generations of the Litening. Another new feature is the ‘Laser Target Imaging Program’ (LTIP), employing a short wave infrared (SWIR) laser augmented imaging, to enhance the targeting system’s capability to capture images in situations where medium-wave infrared (MWIR) forward-looking infrared and CCD are ineffective. In addition, the Litening ATP-SE employs an integral digital two-way data link, facilitating encrypted data communications with compatible land-based or airborne digital datalink devices. Prior generation Litening AT pods are fully upgradable to the G4 configuration, said Jim Mocarski, the company’s vice president of Electro Optical/Infrared Targeting Systems. In fact, expanded production of new and upgraded pods will be continued under Lot 2 production, delivering the U.S. Air Force the ‘Advanced Targeting Pod – Sensor Enhancement’ (ATP-SE) program, while supplying the Marine Corps with new Litening G4, Mocarski added.