Northrop Grumman Corporation has completed delivery of the first 50 LITENING G4 advanced targeting (AT) pods under a $277.8 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract from the US Air Force.

“Completing Lot 1 is an important milestone because it puts a significant capability in the hands of our war fighters,” said Jim Mocarski, Vice President of Electro Optical/Infrared Targeting Systems at Northrop Grumman. “It also demonstrates our expanded production and upgrade capacity to execute Lot 2, our Marine Corps G4 and US Air Force advanced targeting pod – sensor enhancement orders.”

The LITENING G4 advanced targeting pod is the newest addition to the company’s LITENING family of targeting pods, delivering the latest advancements in sensor, laser imaging and data link technology. LITENING G4’s full 1Kx1K forward looking infrared and charge-coupled device (CCD) sensors, wider field of view and enhanced zoom deliver more accurate target identification and location at longer ranges than previous generations of LITENING targeting pod systems. The short wave infrared laser imaging provides a unique capability to capture images in situations where forward-looking infrared and CCD are ineffective.

“The prior generation LITENING AT pods are upgradable to the G4 configuration,” Mocarski said.

Northrop Grumman has delivered over 550 targeting pod systems to US and international customers. These systems have maintained an operational availability greater than 98 per cent, and have flown more than 5,40,000 combat flight hours. LITENING G4 has begun full operations at its first military base.