Sener of Spain has joined forces with Lockheed Martin to offer the Spanish air force an upgraded version of the Nite Hawk targeting pod for its Boeing F-18s.
The team has in its sights upgrading some 500 pods in service worldwide.
The new Nite Hawk Block III features a "third generation" forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor, which provides increased stand-off range and higher resolution imagery.
Under a memorandum of under-standing unveiled at Le Bourget, Sener will produce the FLIR under licence and develop a new computer for the pod.
The two companies have also formed a strategic partnership to develop and produce electro-optic and electronic systems for future fighters.
The Spanish air force already has 17 Nite Hawk pods and wants another 24, with a request for proposals expected shortly. Sener and Lockheed Martin will offer to supply new Block III pods and upgrade the existing units.
The new FLIR, which features a large format staring-array thermal imager, was flight-tested in April in a pre-production version of Lockheed Martin's Pantera next-generation targeting pod.
While the Nite Hawk is designed exclusively for the F-18, the smaller, lighter Pantera will fit a wide variety of aircraft, Lockheed Martin says.
And the new pod will be offered for the Eurofighter Typhoon, which Spain will be receiving in 2002.
Source: Flight Daily News
