Northrop Grumman has signed a contract valued at up to $1.84 billion to extend manufacturing and modification of the AN/AAQ-28 Litening advanced targeting pods for the US Air Force.
The award builds on a $1.3-billion agreement from 2019 that provided comprehensive support for the program through 2023.
Under the latest deal, Washington requested the company produce, maintain, and upgrade the external aircraft mount.
Related activities will be performed at its facility in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, with an expected completion by December 2035.
The air force did not disclose specific pod quantities or delivery schedules, which will be determined as officials issue individual task orders against the ceiling.
Progress will be coordinated with the service’s Precision Attack Contracting Branch at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia, which holds oversight of the effort.
The AN/AAQ-28 Litening System
Originally developed by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the AN/AAQ-28 Litening pod is being assembled and maintained in the US by Northrop Grumman.
It integrates beneath fighter jets to provide crews with high-definition electro-optical and infrared imagery, laser target designation, and long-range tracking in all weather conditions.
The 2-meter (7-foot) modular system flies across a broad mix of platforms, including the A-10 Thunderbolt II, B-52 Stratofortress, C-130 Hercules, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Super Hornet, AV-8B Harrier II, and MQ-9 Reaper.
Northrop has delivered more than 1,000 pods to US Armed Forces and international allies to date, recording over 4 million flight hours and maintaining operational availability of up to 97 percent.
