December 16, 2009
MCKINNEY, Texas, -- Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared pod, which provides pinpoint accuracy and real-time target assessment from long standoff ranges, has marked more than 500,000 hours of operational flight on the U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet.
In coordination with the Navy, Raytheon has continually improved performance and added advanced capabilities to the targeting pod. ATFLIR allows target recognition and tracking at altitudes and ranges substantially greater than those of other targeting systems. It remains the only targeting pod certified for operation on U.S. naval aircraft carriers.
"The ATFLIR pod system offers the warfighter advanced integrated diagnostic, tracking and targeting capabilities," said Tim Carey, vice president for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems. "The ATFLIR program represents a capability that promotes Raytheon's reputation as a technology leader. With more than 500,000 operational flight hours, our targeting pod has proudly supported the Navy warfighter in operations around the world."
Manufactured by Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, ATFLIR is a high-technology subsystem that replaced three separate legacy F/A-18 pods. It incorporates an innovative common optical path and continuous auto-boresight technology that significantly increases targeting accuracy while minimizing the potential for collateral damage.
"This milestone represents a true team effort between government and industry," said Cmdr. Frank Morely, deputy program manager, F/A-18 and EA-18 program office. "There is no combat system on the F/A-18 used more in today's operations than the ATFLIR."
Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, with 2008 revenues of $4.4 billion and 12,000 employees, is a leading provider of sensor systems that provide actionable information for the network-centric battlefield.
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F-18 Hornet, Raytheon (NYSE:RTN)
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