Spain is searching for a new targeting and navigation pod to equip its Boeing F/A-18A/Bs, while Eurofighter is considering its pod options for the Typhoon.
The Spanish air force is expected to issue a request for tenders for 24 new pods after budget cuts forced it to abandon plans to upgrade the F/A-18's Lockheed Martin AAS-38 Nite Hawk system. Spain is looking for a third generation forward-looking infrared sensor.
Industry sources view the timing of the decision as critical as the four-nation Eurofighter consortium looks at integrating different pods. Spain ordered 87 Eurofighters and it is thought likely whichever system is selected for the F/A-18 will eventually equip its new fighter.
Mike Rudd, BAE Systems director of new business-Eurofighter, says Eurofighter is considering the integration of next generation targeting pods as each of the four partner nations has different requirements. Each country has a different set of weapon and pod requirements that need to be flight cleared before the aircraft enters service. "This sets us up quite well at the start of the programme for offering different weapon fits," he says.
Lockheed Martin is proposing its Pantera to Spain and is keen to find a Eurofighter application for the system. Italy, which uses the Thomson-CSF CDLP system on the Panavia Tornado, is expected to follow Spain. Germany and the UK use the Rafael Litening and BAE Systems TIALD, respectively.
Source: Flight International
