Precision targeting system

Wings of Gold, Spring 2003

Northrop Grumman Corporation's Defensive System Division has successfully flight demonstrated its LITENING Extended Range (ER) precision targeting system with a Navy F/A-18D aircraft at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. Working with a Navy test team, and RAFAEL Missile Division, Northrop Grumman modified the LITENING ER system's interface to be compatible with existing aircraft interfaces.

These changes were first tested in the F/A-18 system integration lab at the NAWC China Lake, California, followed by on-aircraft ground checks at the Patuxet River prior to the actual flight demonstration. LITENING ER successfully tracked targets on the test range using both charge-couple device television (CCD-TV) and forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensors. Additionally, the LITENING ER laser designator was used to simulate deployment of precision munitions from extended ranges.