F-16 Fighting Falcon News

November 3, 2010 (by John Dench) - The U.S. Air National Guard has awarded ITT Corp. a $4.3 million contract to integrate and test an all-weather targeting pod in its F-16 fighter aircraft.
This upgraded Thunder Radar Targeting Pod will enable pilots to complete missions in the most challenging weather conditions, day or night.

The system provides advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar capability to all models of the F-16, magnifying targets on the ground and providing a clear picture of threats to allied forces.

The pod's aircraft interface is the same as that of the electro-optical (EO) pods currently in use, which permits efficient installation and transfer between aircraft as mission requirements dictate. This low-cost solution provides older F16s with advanced targeting capabilities without requiring aircraft structural changes or changes to current radar systems.

"With its all-weather capability and interchangeability, this solution will provide our forces with enhanced technology and flexibility to perform their critical missions," said Joe Ruffolo, vice president of ITT's integrated electronic warfare systems business area.

ITT is teamed with ELTA Systems Ltd., a defense electronics company specializing in radar and electronic warfare, which will provide all pod hardware. ITT will integrate the system into the F-16, add advanced signal processing capability into the pod, and verify the system's effectiveness through flight test demonstrations.