Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC
The US Navy is upgrading its Northrop Grumman F-14s with an improved LANTIRN targeting pod and new global positioning system (GPS)-guided weapons as part of a continuing series of incremental extensions to the fighter's strike capabilities.
Following the LANTIRN-equipped F-14's combat debut in Kosovo, the navy will raise the ceiling of the Lockheed Martin pod from 25,000ft (7,600m) to 40,000ft. The designator will be modified to counter laser arching and the system will enter service from late next year.
"This will give the F-14 a tremendous tactical advantage, with a greater stand-off capability. Lethality and survivability will go up," says F-14 programme manager Capt Ted Carson.
The USN expects to begin enhancements to the LANTIRN on the Tomcat Tactical Targeting in October. Updated software and the addition of a GPS inside the pod will cut boresight errors and provide latitude and longitude co-ordinates of targets captured by the targeting forward looking infra-red radar (FLIR).
A fast tactical imagery (FTI) capability now being retrofitted to the F-14 will enable FLIR images and GPS co-ordinates to be transmitted in real time to other aircraft or back to the surface battle group. FTI can also relay images taken from the head-up display video, TV and new digitised tactical airborne reconnaissance pod, via the aircraft's ARC-182 UHF radio.
The navy is also expanding the range of ordnance cleared for F-14 carriage, with the addition late next year of the GPS augmented version of GBU-24 laser-guided bomb. This will be supplemented from 2001 with the GPS-guided Joint Direct Attack Munition.
Source: Flight International
