F-16 Fighting Falcon News

September 28, 2006 (by Lieven Dewitte) - Raytheon's High-Speed Anti-radiation Missile (HARM) Targeting System (HTS) program reached a contract milestone with the delivery of the first Revision 7 pod to the U.S. Air Force.
The HTS pod is mounted to the side of F-16 aircraft and provides critical combat identification capabilities to pilots as they patrol the air above the battlefield. Using the HTS, a pilot is able to detect, locate and identify ground-based emitters. Armed with this data, the pilot can then decide to avoid the area or engage the emitter by attacking and destroying the site.

The HTS Revision 7 (HTS R7) brings the latest technology to the battlefield by employing advanced tactical targeting technology that enables the user to pinpoint the precise location of the emission source using multi-ship techniques. This capability then allows the use of precision guided munitions to destroy the target.

Equipped with upgraded hardware that features a GPS receiver, a digital receiver, a new power supply and a redesigned software load, the R7 is compatible with the latest currently fielded M3.4+ F-16 operational flight program (OFP) software and will enable pilots to destroy hostile emitters once employed with the upcoming M4.2+ OFP release.

"The HTS has revolutionized combat and the tactics that we employ in the air," said Lt. Col. Mike Jansen. "The HTS will be a key component in building a battle order available to all forces on the net, ultimately saving lives and increasing air power effectiveness."

The R7 HTS development effort was put on contract in 2001 and received clearance to proceed with a retrofit program in February 2005. All the current Air Force HTS pod inventory will be retrofitted to R7 over the next two years.