ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., March 17, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Defensive Systems Division has received the first U.S. Air Force contract to upgrade LITENING targeting and navigation systems used by the Air National Guard to the new Advanced Targeting (AT) system configuration.
The $19.7 million contract includes the retrofit of 45 LITENING II and 19 LITENING Extended Range (ER) pods to LITENING AT status, along with training and other support and options for additional retrofits. The AT version includes enhanced image processing, multitarget cueing, precision target coordinate generation, and improved air-to-air capabilities.
"The AT configuration represents a significant advancement in capabilities for the LITENING targeting system," said Mike Lennon, vice president of Targeting and Surveillance Programs at Northrop Grumman's Defensive Systems Division. "The upgrade to LITENING AT will give Air National Guard F-16s the best targeting system flying today."
The Northrop Grumman LITENING AT is a self-contained, multisensor laser target designating and navigation system that enables fighter pilots to detect, acquire, track and identify ground targets for highly accurate delivery of both conventional and precision-guided weapons. LITENING AT features include a 640 x 512 pixel Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) camera; charge-coupled device television; laser spot tracker/range finder; infrared marker; laser designator; and two-level maintenance previously fielded with LITENING ER.
LITENING AT predecessors, LITENING II and LITENING ER, are currently fielded with ANG F-16s and A-10s, Air Force F-15Es, Air Force Reserve Command F-16s, U.S. Marine Corps, Italian and Spanish AV-8Bs.
Based in Rolling Meadows, Northrop Grumman's Defensive Systems Division designs, develops and manufactures radio frequency and electro-optic/infrared products that protect military aircraft, ships, satellites and ground vehicles from attack by modern weapons; provide tactical aircraft with 24-hour targeting and navigation capabilities; ensure high-value, complex, electronic and electro-optical weapons systems are mission ready; and evaluate defense electronic performance in complex environments.
The division is a component of Northrop Grumman's Baltimore-based Electronic Systems sector, a world leader in the design, development, and manufacture of defense and commercial electronic systems, including airborne radar systems, navigation systems, electronic warfare systems, precision weapons, airspace management systems, air defense systems, communications systems, space systems, marine systems, oceanic and naval systems, government systems, and logistic services.
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