UK to order Israel's Litening III targeting and navigation system for the Eurofighter, page 1

posted on Oct, 1 2005 @ 08:12 AM

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Full article
UK set to order first Litening III systems to prepare Eurofighter for multirole duties

The UK is to acquire an initial 20 Rafael Litening III targeting and navigation pods for its Eurofighter Typhoons under a deal with Ultra Electronics worth potentially £20 million ($36 million).

To provide the Royal Air Force’s Typhoon F1 fighters with the ability to detect, identify and track ground or maritime targets before self-designating them for attack using laser- or GPS-guided bombs, the 200kg (450lb) Litening III pod houses forward-looking infrared and colour TV cameras and a laser designator/rangefinder.

Israel’s Rafael Armament Development Authority will act as prime subcontractor for the deal, which covers pod production and the provision of through-life logistics support services. Ultra has not disclosed where the Litening III systems will be manufactured, although aircraft integration and flight-test activities in the UK will be overseen by NATO’s Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency.

The RAF expects to have its Typhoons ready to undertake air-to-surface strike missions from early 2008.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

I suppose the Eurofighter's multirole abilities just got enhanced.

Also, it is surprising that a world aerospace leader like BAe (and others in the Eurofighter consortium) has not made an equivalent high end Laser Designators and the UK is having to procure the same from Israel.

waynos

posted on Oct, 1 2005 @ 08:22 AM

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It wouldn't be a case of 'having to' import them. More like the cost effectiveness of importing a perfectly sound system balanced agains the cost of developing a duplicate system independantly.

Also, the is no such mark as Typhoon F1, so the article is in error there. The RAF uses the Typhoon T1 two seater and Typhoon F2 single seater.

mojouk

posted on Oct, 1 2005 @ 08:40 AM

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I guess a British defence company might get the license to build the system. Westland had the license to build the apaches.

Check the RAF website they call the typhoon the F1 and F2

[edit on 1-10-2005 by mojouk]

waynos

posted on Oct, 1 2005 @ 08:53 AM

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Originally posted by mojouk
Check the RAF website they call the typhoon the F1 and F2

[edit on 1-10-2005 by mojouk]

You may have misread it, or it could be typo. This is correct.

Typhoon T1 and F2

Jezza

posted on Oct, 1 2005 @ 10:24 AM

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ALSO the RAAF are to aquire also.

Major Boost to the F/A-18 Strike Capability

(Source: Australian Department of Defence; issued Sept. 5, 2005)

Northrop Grumman has been chosen as the preferred supplier of a state-of-the-art laser weapon targeting system for Australia’s F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft as part of a project worth more than $100 million.

Defence Minister Robert Hill said Defence had recommended the LITENING pod manufactured by Northrop Grumman, with RAFAEL being a major subcontractor.

Defence assessed three systems – including the Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infra-Red pod manufactured by Raytheon and the Pantera pod manufactured by Lockheed Martin.

www.defense-aerospace.com...

Keep the hornets going for a little longer.

[edit on 1-10-2005 by Jezza]

Stealth Spy

posted on Oct, 2 2005 @ 03:15 AM

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India's LCA will also feature the Litening 3 - just like the MKI