The US Air Force has equipped some of its Boeing F-15E strike aircraft with the Rafael/Northrop Grumman Litening targeting pod.
The first 24 pods were ordered in a crash programme to improve the fighter's precision attack capabilities.
The Litening AT was integrated with the F-15 in only 87 days. The integration work was followed by an initial order for 24 pods.
Israeli sources say the Royal Netherlands Air Force is considering a Litening purchase, after having reduced the number of Lockheed Martin LANTIRN pods to be acquired for its Lockheed MartinF-16 fleet. A competition is expected to begin shortly.
Meanwhile, Northrop Grumman has modified a Litening with a video datalink between the aircraft and an unmanned air vehicle ground station.
Source: Flight International
