US Air Force aircraft will receive Northrop Grumman’s Litening G4 targeting and sensor systems and related equipment under a new $153m contract.

The Litening Gen 4 is a self-contained, multisensor laser target-designating, surveillance and navigation system that can also accept a range of data links without further modifications to the pod or aircraft.

Under the contract, the firm will also provide kits to upgrade existing Litening pods to G4 configuration for the Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard.

The pods feature a digital forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor, a TV sensor, a laser target imaging system for target recognition in a range of conditions in the day or night and a plug-and-play data link to improve communications between airborne and ground forces.