Boeing is planning to release a request for offers shortly, to initiate a contest for an advanced-targeting, forward-looking infra-red system (ATFLIR) for the F/A-18C/D and the more-advanced F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
Naval Air Systems Command says that it will award Boeing a contract for development, integration and installation of the ATFLIR in the US Navy's strike aircraft. As prime contractor for the F-18, Boeing will run the competition for the USN.
The initial contract will be for engineering and manufacturing development and will include options for low-rate production of 72 units.
Three bidders have declared their intention to compete in a fly-off to equip the F-18 with the upgraded night-navigation and targeting sensor.
A team composed of the USA's Northrop Grumman and Israel's Rafael is expected to compete with Lockheed Martin and Hughes Aircraft to equip E/Fs and to refit some C/Ds with a third-generation FLIR sensor and laser-designator pod.
Northrop (which is in the throes of a take-over by Lockheed Martin) and Rafael are working to upgrade the Litening pod for the fly-off under a teaming agreement in which the US company would be prime contractor for Litening systems sold to the US Department of Defense, or through US foreign-military-sales channels.
The US company will produce electronics for the Litening, including the new FLIR sensor. The pod is undergoing flight tests on an Israeli air force LockheedMartin F-16.
Lockheed Martin declines to provide information on its contender, dubbed the Sniper. Hughes Aircraft says only that its Terminator II FLIR is based on an earlier-model testbed system.
The new system will replace a navigation pod made by Hughes Aircraft and the AAS-38B Nite Hawk targeting FLIR system from Lockheed Martin.
Source: Flight International
