Northrop Grumman and LIG Nex1 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the ADEX 2023 defence exhibition in Seoul to collaborate on airborne electronic warfare (EW) and targeting systems for the Republic of Korea, Northrop Grumman announced on 18 October 2023.
“This agreement with LIG Nex1 builds on Northrop Grumman’s decades of delivering advanced defence solutions to the Republic of Korea,” Dong Ha, chief executive of Northrop Grumman Korea, was quoted as saying in a company press release.
Northrop Grumman’s airborne electronic warfare and targeting systems including the ALQ-257 F-16 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare System, the LITENING advanced targeting pod and the APR-39D(V)2 and E(V)2 radar warning receivers.
The LITENING system, which is a specific focus of the MoU, is a podded, multi-sensor targeting and surveillance system that empowers aircrew to detect, acquire, auto-track and identify targets at long ranges. The system is currently in service with the US Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Air National Guard and international customers.
LITENING was originally designed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, but Northrop Grumman teamed with the Israeli company in 1995 to further develop and market the system.
LIG Nex1 is a prominent South Korean aerospace and defence manufacturer that was established in 1976 as Goldstar Precision. The company develops and produces a wide range of advanced precision electronic systems and is a major supplier to the South Korean armed forces.
