Litening Targeting System Integrated on B-52H and F-15E

Released on Tuesday, April 15, 2003

The US Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) successfully integrated the Litening II precision targeting system into its B-52H. The B-52H is the seventh US military aircraft type to integrate a Litening system.

Combined efforts of the AFRC, the Boeing company, the Northrop-Grumman corporation and Rafael made possible successful Litening II targeting system integration on the B-52.

It was released that a B-52 bomber dropped GBU-12 laser guided bombs during operation Iraqi Freedom using a Litening II targeting system.

Litening II is a self-contained, multisensor laser target designating and navigation system that enables fighter pilot to accurate delivery of both conventional and precision-guided weapons. Litening II consists of a FLIR camera, a CCD-TV, a laser spot tracker/rangefinder, an infrared marker and a laser designator. It allows laser target designation from above 40,000 feet (12,200 meters).

The US Air Force recently also awarded a $33 million contract to Northrop-Grumman to provide 24 Litening ER targeting systems for use aboard F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft.

The Litening ER is an improved derivative of Litening II precision targeting system featuring a 640x512 pixel FLIR camera.

Currently, the Litening ER precision targeting pods are fielded with F-16 and AV-8B aircraft.