Northrop Grumman Completes OT&E for the Litening II

Northrop Grumman has successfully completed operational test & evaluation (OT&E) of the Rafael-developed Litening II laser targeting pod on USAF F-16C/D fighters. In tests at the Air National Guard and AF Reserve Text Center in Tucson, Arizona, F-16s performed live day and night interdiction, counter-air and close air support missions.

Eight Litening II systems will be shipped to ANG and Reserve units this month to provide an initial operating capability. Ultimately, 17 ANG and four Reserve F-16 squadrons will have Litening II pods.
Under a 1995 agreement, Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for Litening II on US military programs. The self-contained pod is mechanically, electronically and aerodynamically compatible with all F-16s, and includes a stabilized laser designator/rangefinder boresighted to a forward-looking infra-red (FLIR)/TV sensor.

Litening II allows the Guard and Reserve F-16s to self-designate targets for laser-guided bombs, a capability which was previously confined to Block 40 aircraft with LANTIRN. Litening is believed to be operational on Israeli F-16s, and is offered for export to F-16 customers worldwide.

The F-16 may not be the only US aircraft to be equipped with Litening II. The USAF has received approval to evaluate the system on the Boeing B-52 bomber. Although the B-52 can carry laser-guided bombs, the primary role of the Litening pod would be as a rangefinder to improve the accuracy of the GPS-inertial Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) carried by the B-52.