Northrop Grumman To Install Data Link Upgrade On US Navy's F/A-18s

The U.S. Marine Corps has picked Northrop Grumman to supply an upgraded aircraft data link system to its Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet supersonic fighters.

The new Advanced Tactical Data Links (ATDL) system installed in the F/A-18s LITENING electro-optical/infrared­ (EO/IR) targeting pods will offer a significant increase in bandwidth and data transfer, as per a recent company press statement.

LITENING is an electro-optical/infrared targeting pod that detects, acquires, identifies and tracks targets at long range. The upgrades will mean that for the first time, operators in the air and on the ground will be able to view the same live video feed simultaneously.

Northrop Grumman says the new capabilities will mean decisions can be taken faster and will enhance mission precision.

Vice president of navigation, targeting and survivability at Northrop Grumman James Conroy commented: “LITENING’s high-definition sensors on the advanced EO/IR targeting pod gather critical information, enabling more rapid decision making.

"The ATDL enhancement is like upgrading to better Wi-Fi by building on LITENING’s already proven data links, making live feeds immediately available on the ground – a critical capability in our modern environment.”

• You can read more details on the Northrop Grumman website