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 Air Force Reserve Command F-16 fighter aircraft have always had the capability to be armed and dangerous. Now, they are even more lethal with the addition of the Litening II Precision Attack Targeting System. The 301st FW from the NAS Fort Worth JRB accepted delivery of the first four Litening II targeting pods in late February. The pods provide F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft with an advanced precision-strike capability. The pods allow pilots to identify targets at long-range and drop extremely accurate, laser-guided weapons in a variety of environments.
This technology allows pilots to operate at much higher altitudes, further reducing exposure to ground threats. Using a forward-looking infrared sensor, this high-resolution, thermal-imaging system gives Litening II the ability to detect and identify targets night or day. Another camera, a charged couple device television, enhances the search for targets during daylight operations.
Air Force Reserve Command F-16 pilots have participated in Operation Northern Watch with LANTIRN targeting pods borrowed from Air Combat Command units. The 301st was the first reserve component to employ precision-guided munitions during contingency operations. The need for the Reserve Command to have its own equipment to train with and use in combat became more significant as the tempo of operations continued to increase and as regional commanders-in-chief required a greater use of precision-guided munitions. |
