Litening pod selected for Gripen

Saab-BAE SYSTEMS Gripen is to integrate the Zeiss Optronik Litening combined targeting and navigation pod on Gripen, subject to successful completion of contract negotiations. The pod will be offered to customers as an option, further enhancing Gripen's class-leading situational awareness with its Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR) and laser designation capabilities.

The FLIR image produced by the Litening pod can overlay the real world in Gripen's wide-angle diffractive optics head-up display. The pod will be fitted to the side fuselage pylon and will not reduce Gripen's ability to carry a heavy and varied load of air-to-air or air-to-surface missiles. It also provides laser designator and rangefinder capabilities for new-generation 'smart' laser guided bombs.

Integration of the Litening pod forms part of an ongoing programme of product enhancements to meet the needs of both the Swedish Air Force and international customers.

Other developments include the provision of air-to-air refuelling capability and an on-board oxygen generation system (OBOGS) to further extend Gripen's already competitive payload / range performance, introduction of larger full-colour multi-function displays, English language cockpit, world-wide environmental clearance and, where appropriate, the fitting of NATO standard communications equipment, IFF system, pylons and fittings.

Gripen is one of the world's most modern swing-role fighter aircraft and the first of the fourth-generation to enter service. Almost 90 Gripen have been delivered to the Swedish Air Force which has completed almost 12,000 flight hours and 16,000 missions with operational aircraft.

Three batches for a total of 204 Gripen, 28 of them fully combat operational two-seaters, have been ordered for the Swedish Air Force. In addition, South Africa has ordered 28, including 9 two-seaters. These orders will ensure production of Gripen until at least 2012

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