LOCKHEED MARTIN is on the verge of sealing a partnership with a European team, including Fokker, on its low-altitude navigation and targeting infra red for night (LANTIRN) pod, following a Panavia recommendation that Germany procure the system for its Tornado mid-life update.
Germany's defence ministry says that a decision on selection of the laser-designator pod for its Tornados had to be taken quickly to avoid delaying the upgrade.
The LANTIRN's chief competitors are the thermal-imaging and TV airborne laser designator pod from GEC-Marconi Defence Systems, and the Litening pod from Rafael of Israel.
While Lockheed Martin declines to confirm which companies are involved in partnership talks, it is believed that Daimler-Benz Aerospace subsidiary Fokker will be a key player in any team. Lockheed Martin says that a team including Dutch and German companies may be established before the end of June.
Senior Panavia officials confirm that they have made a technical recommendation to the ministry in favour of the US pod. The US company is already using Germany's AEG and Freiburg-based Litef as components suppliers for the LANTIRN.
Source: Flight International