Northrop gets Australia contract extension

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ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Dec. 7 (UPI) -- The Australian air force has given Northrop Grumman a contract extension for the LITENING Advanced Targeting system used on F/A-18 aircraft.

The four-year contract extension, worth about $8 million, is for in-service support for the targeting pods and data links.

"This four-year extension reflects the continued success of the LITENING program, and reinforces the positive relationship that Northrop Grumman has established with the (Australian air force)," said Charles Brinkman, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's Targeting Systems Division.

The LITENING AT system for air and ground engagement features advanced image processing for target identification; coordinate generation for GPS weapons; a forward-looking infrared sensor for effective day and night operations; and a charge-coupled device television sensor.

Other features include dual waveband infrared laser designator, eye-safe laser range finder, a laser spot tracker and infrared laser marker.

Northrop says its LITENING pods can be integrated on a wide variety of aircraft and are being used by U.S. forces, as well as military forces of Italy, Spain, Israel, the Netherlands, Finland and Portugal.