Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC
The US Air Force has not included an automatic combat identification capability as a baseline requirement in its recently released request for proposals (RFP) for the next generation Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP). The capability will be a future option.
Three competing manufacturers have submitted final proposals to the USAF Air Combat Command ahead of a selection, now scheduled for July. The initial buy is 168 pods, but the winning system will eventually replace the air force's widely used Lockheed Martin LANTIRN targeting system.
After several months of evaluating the three systems under its Laser Vision research project, the USAF has decided against including a requirement for longer range, higher resolution target identification. The capability will instead be made a future growth option, allowing more time for critical technology to mature.
A measure of system maturity is the level of confidence in the ability to accurately identify targets from 20,000ft (6,100m) and higher. The capability relies on fusing data from sensors on- and off-board the pod. "The key is image fidelity," says Victor Taber, Raytheon ATP programme manager
All three pod contenders - the Lockheed Martin Sniper, Northrop Grumman's improved Litening II and Raytheon's Terminator-based ATP - have been flight tested by the USAF on Lockheed Martin F-16 and Boeing F-15 fighters. Baseline requirements include a 40,000ft laser designator, mid-wave forward looking infrared and laser spot tracker.
Raytheon recently unveiled its proposal and is claiming unique capabilities. These include a continuous automatic boresight alignment that uses the FLIR's central pixel to permanently cue the laser designator for targeting, and to generate geographical location data for GPS satellite navigation guided weaponry.
"This is the only system that has put laser energy on target at operational requirement document required ranges from a tactical aircraft, even pulling g and with changes in temperature. It uses mirrors to keep the laser centred," explains Taber. It also features a stowable sensor head to protect against foreign object damage.
The USAF has stipulated that the pod be a non-development item to keep costs down. Raytheon's ATP is based on the US Navy Advanced Targeting FLIR, now entering service with the addition of an environment control system and an F-15/16 interface mode. The navy is planning to buy 250 pods - Raytheon received a low rate initial production contract for 15 ATFLIRs for the Boeing F/A-18E/F last week - and, if selected by the USAF, the company is promising a 10-20% price cut.
Source: Flight International
