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India acquires Litening targeting pod

Zarvan

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rafael-Litening-4.jpg


Rafael will supply 164 examples of its Litening targeting pod to the Indian air force, for use on four types of combat aircraft including New Delhi’s Sukhoi Su-30 fighters.

Guy Oren, director of Rafael's electro-optical systems unit, says the pods will be delivered in the next couple of years.

An advanced version of the Litening 4 – the Litening 4 I – will be supplied. The improved system has been equipped with upgraded infrared cameras and a charge-coupled device colour camera to help identify targets on the ground, particularly dense areas, Rafael says.

The company adds that the new version doubles up as a surveillance and reconnaissance system in addition to being a targeting pod.

In February it was announced that the planned Litening acquisition would fall under a larger $500 million deal between India and Israel, which would also see the Rafael Spice 250 precision-guided bomb provided to New Delhi.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/india-acquires-litening-targeting-pod-426811/
 
  • Identification of aerial targets from the Beyond Visual Range (BVR)
  • Long range data and video down-link option
Last year Rafael won a major contract to supply Litening 4 pods to the Indian Air Force (IAF), which operates more than 100 earlier-vintage Litening units. The IAF already is operating Litening pods with Su-30, MiG-29, Mirage 2000, Jaguar and Tejas.
 
Israel provided it to India during the Kargil Conflict ...!
 
About time the MKI fleet truly went multi-role.
The MKI SQNs have had Litening LDP for over a decade now:

Kedar_20080815-141__D206128.jpg




su-30mki-flanker-h-sb115_pics77-7740.jpg



This new deal is for the latest version (G4) to equip the newer MKIs SQNs as well as other platforms (Jaguars, MiG-29UPG, Mirage 2000-5 MK.2 and the Rafales).

can the older variants be upgraded to G4?
Indeed they can and this is part of the contract.
 
The MKI SQNs have had Litening LDP for over a decade now:

Kedar_20080815-141__D206128.jpg




su-30mki-flanker-h-sb115_pics77-7740.jpg



This new deal is for the latest version (G4) to equip the newer MKIs SQNs as well as other platforms (Jaguars, MiG-29UPG, Mirage 2000-5 MK.2 and the Rafales).


Indeed they can and this is part of the contract.

Those two pictures are the only ones Ive ever seen. Not to mention no idea of LGB deployment in exercises.
 
Those two pictures are the only ones Ive ever seen. Not to mention no idea of LGB deployment in exercises.
Well here is another one:


tumblr_nm9819J8Fo1tjfjuco1_1280.jpg


:p::p:


Speaking seriosuly though, the Indian Navy and Airforce rarely show pictures of their aircraft in anything but a "clean" configuration (or maybe some drop tanks for the smaller legged a/c), that doesn't mean they don't have the requisite weaponary/sensors as advertised.
 
Well here is another one:


tumblr_nm9819J8Fo1tjfjuco1_1280.jpg


:p::p:


Speaking seriosuly though, the Indian Navy and Airforce rarely show pictures of their aircraft in anything but a "clean" configuration (or maybe some drop tanks for the smaller legged a/c), that doesn't mean they don't have the requisite weaponary/sensors as advertised.
I dont disagree, mine was not rhetorical but rather a curious question.
That policy is common for most military forces looking to ensure operational secrecy for their systems.
 

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