Introduction

The Raytheon AN/ASQ-228 Advance Targeting Forward-Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) is a multi-sensor, electro-optical targeting pod incorporating infrared, low-light television camera, laser rangefinder/target designator, and laser spot tracker. It is used to provide navigation and targeting for military aircraft in adverse weather and using precision-guided weapons such as laser-guided bombs. It is intended to replace the earlier AN/AAS-38 Nite Hawk pod in US Navy service. Raytheon Company NYSE: RTN is a major United States military contractor based in Waltham, Massachusetts. ... Image of a small dog taken in mid-infrared (thermal) light (false color) Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than visible light, but shorter than microwave radiation. ... The range of sizes in which lasers exist is immense, extending from microscopic diode lasers (top) to football field sized neodymium glass lasers (bottom) used for inertial confinement fusion. ... Military aircraft are airplanes used in warfare. ... A laser-guided bomb (LGB) is a free-fall bomb, usually dropped from an aircraft, that is guided to its target by a laser designator The laser is directed at the target, illuminating it. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ...

ATFLIR is 72 in (183 cm) long, weighs 420 lb (191 kg), and has a slant range of 30 mi (48 km), said to be useful at altitude of up to 50,000 ft (15,240 m). It has fewer parts than many previous systems, which is intended to improve serviceability (although early examples, in service with VFA-115 'Eagles' in 2003 experienced problems). Crews indicate that it offers much greater target resolution and image accuracy than previous systems. 2003(MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

ATFLIR presently is used only by the US Navy on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, although it is compatible with the earlier F/A-18C/D. It is normally carried on one of the fuselage stations otherwise used for AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. Current plans call for a total of 574 pods. The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... The F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather fighter and attack aircraft. ... The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM (pronounced am-ram), commonly known to air crews as the Slammer, is a modern air-to-air missile (AAM). ...

Competition

The ATFLIR pod faces competion from several other electo-optical system manufacturers. These include:

• Sniper: Manufactured by Lockheed Martin for the United States Airforce
• Litening: Manufactured by Northrop Grumman

Lockheed/BAE/Northrop F-35 Lockheed Trident missile C-130 Hercules; in production since the 1950s, now as the C-130J Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is an aerospace manufacturer formed in 1995 by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta. ... Seal of the Air Force. ... The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is an aerospace and defense conglomerate that is the result of a 1994 merger between Northrop and Grumman. ...

External Links

• Raytheon ATFLIR Website