The Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing has integrated the LITENING pod on two of its C-130Hs to test out its effectiveness during air drops.
A 189th Airlift Wing C-130H is mounted with a Northrop Grumman LITENING pod targeting system as part of an Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center program to develop a highly-accurate air drop and reconnaissance system. The Arkansas Air National Guard unit has been tapped as a test bed and has sent aircraft, aircrews and maintainers to Arizona for the test program.
Photos by Master Sgt. Chris Durney
During flight tests, the crew will utilize the targeting pod for drop zone identification, geo-coordinate generation and confirmation, and to track dropped bundles.
Lt. Col. Matthew “Banger” Baugher, from the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center (AATC), explains the LITENING pod targeting system to Maj. Gen. Mark H. Berry, the adjutant general of Arkansas, right, and Brig. Gen. Kurt Vogel, the commander of the Arkansas Air National Guard. The 189th Airlift Wing C-130s have been tapped as test beds for a highly-accurate air drop and reconnaissance system.
The new tool will also be useful during disasters or state emergencies as it allows the C-130s to circle overhead and provide critical information from the pod to responders on the ground.
A Northrop Grumman LITENING pod targeting system is mounted on the wing of a 189th Airlift Wing C-130H. The Arkansas Air National Guard has been tapped by the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center (AATC) to provide a test bed for a new highly-accurate air drop and reconnaissance system.Capt. Joshua Shaudys, of the 154th Training Squadron, 189th Airlift Wing, learns the ins and outs of the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center’s LITENING pod system. The Arkansas Air National Guard wing has been tapped by AATC to provide aircraft, aircrews and maintainers to test a new highly-accurate air drop and reconnaissance system.Brig. Gen. Kurt Vogel, commander of the Arkansas Air National Guard, listens as Lt. Col. Matthew “Banger” Baugher, of the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center (AATC), explains the LITENING pod targeting system. The 189th Airlift Wing has been tapped as a test bed for a highly-accurate air drop and reconnaissance system.
