ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. — The U.S. military has awarded Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. a multiyear indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract with a maximum value of $1.84 billion to continue the production, sustainment, and modernization of the AN/AAQ-28 LITENING Comprehensive Advanced Targeting Pod (CATP).
The contract, announced in the U.S. Department of War's contracts list for July 30, 2026, allows the government to place orders under the agreement through Dec. 31, 2035. It covers the production and delivery of new LITENING targeting pods, along with operational support, sustainment, and modifications for systems already in service.
An initial obligation of approximately $42.9 million in fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance funds was made at the time of the award. The contract begins immediately, with details of the initial execution phase remaining limited.
The firm-fixed-price agreement was awarded through a sole-source acquisition managed by the Precision Attack Contracting Branch at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, under contract number FA8540-26-D-B001. All manufacturing and engineering work will be carried out at Northrop Grumman's facility in Rolling Meadows, Illinois.
Advanced Targeting System
The AN/AAQ-28 LITENING is an electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) targeting pod designed to detect, acquire, identify, and track targets at extended ranges. It provides targeting and surveillance capabilities for a wide range of military missions.
The system incorporates a high-resolution forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor, a charge-coupled device (CCD) television camera for daytime operations, and a laser designator for guiding precision-guided munitions.
The pod weighs 459 pounds (208 kilograms) and measures just over seven feet in length. It is mounted externally on aircraft and features a modular architecture that allows capability upgrades over time without requiring a complete replacement of the system.
Operational Service
According to Northrop Grumman, more than 900 LITENING targeting pods have been delivered to U.S. forces and international customers. The company states that the systems have achieved operational availability of up to 95 percent.
The global LITENING fleet has accumulated more than 3 million flight hours, with a significant share recorded during combat operations.
In addition to precision strike missions, the targeting pod supports:
- Precision targeting
- Close air support
- Air superiority missions
- Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)
- Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief monitoring
Compatible Aircraft
The LITENING targeting pod is integrated across a range of crewed and uncrewed aircraft, including:
- A-10 Thunderbolt II
- AV-8B Harrier II
- F-15E Strike Eagle
- F-16 Fighting Falcon
- F/A-18 Hornet
- B-52 Stratofortress
- C-130 Hercules
- MQ-9 Reaper
Its compatibility with multiple aircraft types has contributed to its widespread use across different mission sets involving both manned and unmanned platforms.
Industry Partnership
Northrop Grumman produces the LITENING targeting pod in partnership with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems of Israel. The company's Rolling Meadows, Illinois, facility serves as a primary production location for the program.
The new contract ensures continued production, sustainment, and modernization of the LITENING targeting pod fleet through the end of 2035, supporting the operational readiness of aircraft already equipped with the system while allowing future orders for additional pods under the IDIQ framework.
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