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B-52 Completes LITENING Integration

B-52H Bombers of the US Air Force Reserve Command add precision direct attack capability, with the Litening ER targeting pod systems

15 April 2003 -- The U.S. Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) has successfully integrated RAFAEL/Northrop Grumman Corporation's LITENING II precision targeting system into its B-52H aircraft. This marks the seventh U.S. military aircraft type to integrate the company's LITENING system.

A successful operational utility evaluation of the LITENING system onboard the B-52H was accomplished recently through the combined efforts of the AFRC, Air Combat Command, B-52 System Program Office, Oklahoma City ALC, Tinker Air Force Base Okla., The Boeing Company, Northrop Grumman's Defensive Systems Division and teammate RAFAEL.

After lab integration at Boeing's Wichita, Kan., facilities, initial operational evaluation missions of this new combat capability for the B-52H were successfully conducted at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Additional flights, including the Extended Range version, will continue at Barksdale.

"Integration of the LITENING system on the B-52 provides the AFRC with alternatives for conducting precision targeting, day and night, that other systems cannot currently provide. Employment of the LITENING targeting system on such a long range and endurance, heavy payload platform as the B-52 is a transformational capability for the warfighter," said Mike Lennon, vice president of Targeting and Surveillance Programs at Northrop Grumman.

LITENING is a self-contained, multi-sensor 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 features include a forward-looking infrared camera; charge-coupled device television; laser spot tracker/range finder; infrared marker; and a laser designator. The system allows laser designation from above 40,000 feet, infrared marking of targets for ground troops, accurate target coordinate generation, and two-level maintenance on the flight line.

LITENING pods are currently fielded with Air National Guard (ANG) F-16s, U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) AV-8Bs, and U.S. Air Force F-15Es. LITENING ER's predecessor, the LITENING II system with a 256 FLIR, is also operational on ANG and Air Force Reserve Command F-16s and on AV-8Bs owned and operated by the USMC, Italy and Spain.

For further information please contact
RAFAEL public affairs. Tel: 972-4-8974777