Support Equipment

LITENING Advanced Targeting Pod (AN/AAQ-28)

Also known as

AN/AAQ-28
Litening
Litening pod

The LITENING Advanced Targeting Pod (AN/AAQ-28) is a Rafael-designed electro-optical/infrared targeting pod used on multirole combat aircraft for precision targeting and reconnaissance. The U.S. Air Force fact sheet describes it as a modular pod family, and Italy's AMX aircraft have carried the Litening C4 variant in service.

LITENING Advanced Targeting Pod (AN/AAQ-28), Electro-optical targeting pod, Support Equipment

Image source: Commons Rafael Litening Pod JAS-39C

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin: Israel
Built by: Rafael Advanced Defense SystemsNorthrop Grumman
Built in: IsraelUnited States
Type: Electro-optical targeting pod
Service note: 1995-present
Unit cost: about $1.4 million
Produced: 1995-present

electro-opticaltargetingsensor precision fires

Specifications

Role: Electro-optical/infrared targeting pod
Sensors: Forward-looking infrared, charge-coupled device television, laser designator, and laser spot tracker
Physical data: About 2.2 m long, 40.6 cm in diameter, and 208 kg
Mission set: Precision targeting, close air support, surveillance, and humanitarian assistance

Carrier Aircraft

LITENING is built as an externally mounted pod family for multirole combat aircraft.

Carrier

Carrier type

Carriage evidence

AMX International AMX, Light attack and reconnaissance aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs

AMX International AMX

Light attack and reconnaissance aircraft

Aeronautica Militare reported AMX ACOL testing with the Litening C4 pod at Pratica di Mare, and the AMX history page says Italian aircraft first used Litening targeting pods in Libya.

Sources: IL RSV COMPLETA LE ATTIVITÀ SU AMX DEL POD LITENING C4, AMX International AMX - Wikipedia

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: The U.S. Air Force fact sheet describes LITENING as a modular targeting pod for precision targeting, close air support, surveillance, and humanitarian assistance, with a reported unit cost of about $1.4 million.

Media

LITENING Advanced Targeting Pod (AN/AAQ-28) Images

LITENING Advanced Targeting Pod (AN/AAQ-28), Electro-optical targeting pod, Support Equipment - view 1 — Source: Commons Litening Pod on FA-18

LITENING Advanced Targeting Pod (AN/AAQ-28), Electro-optical targeting pod, Support Equipment - view 2 — Source: Commons ANAAQ-28 LITENING

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Sources

LITENING Advance TargetingPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports manufacturer background, modular pod family context, aircraft integration, target detection and identification role, and the reported unit cost of about $1.4 million. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 IL RSV COMPLETA LE ATTIVITÀ SU AMX DEL POD LITENING C4Publisher: Aeronautica Militare | Note: Supports AMX ACOL activity with the Litening C4 pod at Pratica di Mare and the wider AMX aircraft context for the pod's carriage relationship. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 AMX International AMX - WikipediaPublisher: Wikipedia | Note: Supports the AMX history note that Italian aircraft first used Litening targeting pods in Libya. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Commons Rafael Litening Pod JAS-39CPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the primary Litening gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Commons Litening Pod on FA-18Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the FA-18 gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Commons ANAAQ-28 LITENINGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the AN/AAQ-28 gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-27