Rafael Adds SAR Capability to Litening, Reccelite EO Pods
The company has unveiled new variants of its Litening and Reccelite stand-off electro-optic pods featuring an ELTA-made synthetic aperture radar
IsraelDefense
| 17/06/2019
Photo: Rafael
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has upgraded its fifth-generation Litening and Reccelite all-weather, stand-off electro-optic (EO) pods with the addition of a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) made by IAI’s ELTA Systems. Rafael says additional sensors could also be integrated, including electronic warfare (EW), or communications equipment, and infrared search and track (IRST).
“The new and unique addition of SAR to the Litening and Reccelite is undoubtedly a quantum leap in the standoff EO pod domain,” said Yuval Miller, EVP and Head of Rafael’s C4ISR Systems Division. “Rafael has been a pioneer in defense innovation for seven decades, with immense breakthroughs in many areas, which have given an operational advantage to the Israeli Air Force and to numerous other air forces around the world, operating in the most challenging and complex combat arenas.”
The Litening pod is used by 27 air forces around the world, with 1,900 units already in service. It is integrated and operational on over 25 types of aircraft, including the F-16, F-15, AV8B, F-18, F-4, F-5, A-10, B-2, Jaguar, LCA, AMX, Mirage 2000, Tornado, Typhoon, MiG21, Mig27, M346, KC390, Gripen, and Sukhoi 27 & 30.
The Reccelite is deployed by more than ten air forces on fighter jets and UAVs, including the AMX, F-16, F-18, Gripen, Heron 1, Jaguar, Reaper, Tornado, and Typhoon.
Litening + SAR Targeting Pod
According to Rafael, this first-ever addition of SAR to an EO pod solves the EO challenge of target identification when flying above clouds. The high-performance SAR sensor joins Litening’s set of high-resolution MWIR, SWIR, and HD color sensors.
Reducing pilot workload, Litening + SAR increases mission efficiency through full support of JDAM, LGB and INS/GPS-guided munitions. The pods are equipped with a laser designator, and laser marker for joint missions, as well as an optional Data Link for CAS missions and stand-off ranges.
Reccelite + SAR ISR Pod
The SAR-optimized Reccelite pod delivers all-weather, day/night, all-terrain, long-range capabilities, providing a full aerial intelligence picture with high-resolution images, according to Rafael.
The Reccelite ISR system consists of an airborne ISR pod, a wideband digital Data Link, and a GES (Ground Exploitation System) which can be stationary, mobile, or located on board the aircraft. ELTA’s SAR joins the system’s array of advanced, high-resolution NIR, SWIR, MWIR and color sensors, together simultaneously collecting stabilized high-quality multi-spectral imagery from an unlimited field-of-regard.
Scanning modes include Strip, Persistent Wide Area, Gate-Keeping and more. Reccelite’s mission plan can be uploaded prior to takeoff or uplinked during flight, and either performed automatically or manually controlled for targets of opportunity.
The company has unveiled new variants of its Litening and Reccelite stand-off electro-optic pods featuring an ELTA-made synthetic aperture radar
Photo: Rafael
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has upgraded its fifth-generation Litening and Reccelite all-weather, stand-off electro-optic (EO) pods with the addition of a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) made by IAI’s ELTA Systems. Rafael says additional sensors could also be integrated, including electronic warfare (EW), or communications equipment, and infrared search and track (IRST).
“The new and unique addition of SAR to the Litening and Reccelite is undoubtedly a quantum leap in the standoff EO pod domain,” said Yuval Miller, EVP and Head of Rafael’s C4ISR Systems Division. “Rafael has been a pioneer in defense innovation for seven decades, with immense breakthroughs in many areas, which have given an operational advantage to the Israeli Air Force and to numerous other air forces around the world, operating in the most challenging and complex combat arenas.”
The Litening pod is used by 27 air forces around the world, with 1,900 units already in service. It is integrated and operational on over 25 types of aircraft, including the F-16, F-15, AV8B, F-18, F-4, F-5, A-10, B-2, Jaguar, LCA, AMX, Mirage 2000, Tornado, Typhoon, MiG21, Mig27, M346, KC390, Gripen, and Sukhoi 27 & 30.
The Reccelite is deployed by more than ten air forces on fighter jets and UAVs, including the AMX, F-16, F-18, Gripen, Heron 1, Jaguar, Reaper, Tornado, and Typhoon.
Litening + SAR Targeting Pod
According to Rafael, this first-ever addition of SAR to an EO pod solves the EO challenge of target identification when flying above clouds. The high-performance SAR sensor joins Litening’s set of high-resolution MWIR, SWIR, and HD color sensors.
Reducing pilot workload, Litening + SAR increases mission efficiency through full support of JDAM, LGB and INS/GPS-guided munitions. The pods are equipped with a laser designator, and laser marker for joint missions, as well as an optional Data Link for CAS missions and stand-off ranges.
Reccelite + SAR ISR Pod
The SAR-optimized Reccelite pod delivers all-weather, day/night, all-terrain, long-range capabilities, providing a full aerial intelligence picture with high-resolution images, according to Rafael.
The Reccelite ISR system consists of an airborne ISR pod, a wideband digital Data Link, and a GES (Ground Exploitation System) which can be stationary, mobile, or located on board the aircraft. ELTA’s SAR joins the system’s array of advanced, high-resolution NIR, SWIR, MWIR and color sensors, together simultaneously collecting stabilized high-quality multi-spectral imagery from an unlimited field-of-regard.
Scanning modes include Strip, Persistent Wide Area, Gate-Keeping and more. Reccelite’s mission plan can be uploaded prior to takeoff or uplinked during flight, and either performed automatically or manually controlled for targets of opportunity.
