Northrop Grumman has just received another contract from the Air National Guard and Marine Corps for additional LITENING G4 targeting and senor pods, pushing the company’s order book over 500 pods, according to a March 26 company release. “With 534 total pods fielded or on order, LITENING has become the pod of choice for both US and coalition forces,” said Mike Lennon, Northrop’s vice president of Targeting and Surveillance programs. LITENING pods have been key to improved target recognition in Southwest Asia operations, including striking key al Qaeda figures. Last fall, the Air Guard, Air Force Reserve Command, and Marine Corps signed on for the next generation version, LITENING Gen 4.
The Air Force will promote 11.64 percent of eligible master sergeants to senior master sergeant this year, continuing a steady upward trajectory. The Air Force Personnel Center announced Feb. 24 that 1,635 Airmen are moving up to E-8 out of 14,041 eligible. The full list of those selected will be posted…