Germany’s air force is upgrading the targeting systems of its Eurofighter Typhoon fleet. The country’s parliament has approved the purchase of 90 advanced Litening 5 systems from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Although the company did not disclose the value of the contract, the Globes news website reports that German media estimates it at approximately $418 million.
The transition from Litening 3 to Litening 5 targeting pods indicates a trend among European air forces to opt for advanced variants rather than exclusively relying on new aircraft, according to Rafael.
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Rafael said it has delivered over 2,000 units of the fifth-generation targeting system to 28 air forces worldwide, resulting in more than 2.2 million operational flight hours for Litening 5.
Litening 5’s Advanced Features
Besides the Eurofighter, the targeting pod can be integrated into 25 other aircraft types, such as the F-15, F-16, Gripen, A-10, Mirage 2000 and Embraer. The system is compatible with munitions guided through laser, GPS and images and provides real-time datalink across the Ku, C and L bands.
The pod’s sensor suite is designed for long-range targeting under various atmospheric conditions. Litening 5 delivers the capability through its sensors’ dual-wavelength laser technology and mid-wave and short-wave infrared, high-resolution color imaging.
The system’s design enables adaptability for air-to-ground and air-to-air missions through an optional synthetic aperture radar for broad and all-weather imaging. Rafael said modular upgrades will be available to expand Litening 5’s capabilities further.