Northrop Grumman delivers LITENING G4 advanced targeting system to Royal Danish Air Force for F-16 ISR
ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., 12 Nov. 2013. Denmark is the first international partner to receive LITENING G4 advanced targeting systems, according to executives at Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:NOC). The company has delivered G4 systems for use with Royal Danish Air Force F-16 aircraft.
The LITENING G4 pods, having just completed a flight test and evaluation program, provides pilots with capabilities for detecting, identifying, and tracking targets at long ranges for precision weapon delivery or nontraditional intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
Acceptance of the system followed a two-week flight test evaluation program of 25 sorties that verified the pod's performance against the stringent requirements of the Royal Danish Air Force. At the conclusion of the test program, the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO) issued a certificate of acceptance for the initial delivery of six LITENING G4 pods, spares, support equipment, training and site activation, with additional systems to follow over the next two months.
With this delivery, Denmark becomes the first international partner to receive the LITENING G4, the latest configuration of the LITENING advanced targeting system.
"Denmark is the eighth international partner to select LITENING and the first to receive the G4 system," says Jim Mocarski, vice president of Northrop Grumman's airborne tactical sensors business unit. "Northrop Grumman established a very successful teaming relationship with DALO and the Royal Danish Air Force to deliver the exact combination of performance and pilot interface that the Royal Danish Air Force needed to meet its operational requirements."
The LITENING G4 Advanced Targeting Pod delivers the latest advancements in sensor, laser imaging, and data link technology. The G4's technologies include 1Kx1K forward-looking infrared and charge-coupled device sensors, the highest resolution available in any fielded targeting pod, officials say. Other leading technologies include a shortwave infrared laser imaging sensor, tracker improvements, and enhanced zoom.
Other nations operating LITENING systems include the United States, Australia, Finland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.
Courtney E. Howard | Chief Editor, Intelligent Aerospace
Courtney enjoys writing about all things high-tech in PennWell’s burgeoning Aerospace and Defense Group, which encompasses Intelligent Aerospace and Military & Aerospace Electronics. She’s also a self-proclaimed social-media maven, mil-aero nerd, and avid avionics and space geek. Connect with Courtney at [email protected], @coho on Twitter, on LinkedIn, and on Google+.
