New Targeting Device Employed In Iraq

For the first time in the history of air combat, a B-52 Stratofortress used a LITENING Advanced Airborne Targeting and Navigation Pod to target facilities at an airfield in northern Iraq.

At approximately 5:45 a.m. EST April 11, A crew of reservists from the 93rd Bomb Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base (LA) and active duty airmen from the 23rd Bomb Squadron, Minot AFB, (ND) flew the bomber from a forward operating location to successfully drop one laser-guided GBU-12 munition on a radar complex and one on a command complex at the Al Sahra airfield northwest of Tikrit using the LITENING system.

LITENING is an advanced airborne infrared targeting and navigation pod designed to improve both day and night targeting capabilities. It provides the B-52 radar navigator with real-time images, greatly increasing the aircraft's flexibility to positively identify dynamic targets in a continually changing battlefield environment.

LITENING is used to designate targets and provides guidance to the laser-guided munitions for pinpoint accuracy eliminating the need for an outside target source either on the ground or in the air when it is used.

The radar navigator, in today's case, identified the targets with the imagery provided by the pod, then guided the GBU-12s to the targets with the LITENING laser, successfully striking the targets.

FMI: www.defenselink.mil/news