LITENING STRIKE
The Royal Australian Air Force has begun taking low-rate deliveries of Rafael’s Litening AT targeting pod, with the system to enter service with its Boeing F/A-18 Hornet squadrons from early next year. The Australian defence ministry last year selected Rafael and its partners Northrop Grumman and Zeiss to deliver the systems, which already equip F/A-18s in service with the Spanish air force and US Marine Corps.
NEW DEFENDER
Venezuela has become the launch customer for the Rafael/Israel Aircraft Industries Defender air defence system, which combines the Barak point defence missile with a Thales Netherlands Flycatcher 2 surveillance radar. The system recently underwent a successful test firing in Israel, where the missile’s 25kg (55lb) warhead destroyed an incoming target drone with a direct hit.
Source: Flight International
