The U.S. Marine Corps decided to purchase Northrop Grumman’s all-in-one Next Generation Handheld Targeting System (NGHTS) that packs an array of day/night targeting sensors into a 10 lb (4.5 kg) package and can work with GPS. . Forbidden area.
Portable targeting systems are essential for modern soldiers who often have to act as artillery forward-deployed reconnaissance, needing to be able to call in heavy fire or aerial combat support. The problem is that no single system works under all possible conditions. Second, such systems are bulky and heavy, and when you combine several of them, they can become just another gadget that you need to carry around. To make matters worse, the soldier still has to calculate the target coordinates and transmit them to the base via his field radio.
To address these concerns, Northrop Grumman’s NGHTS combines four different sensors into one package that is lighter and 60% smaller than previous devices. Incorporating many parts that can be 3D printed in the field, the NGHTS unit includes the Marine Corps Portable Lightweight Designator Rangefinder, Joint Terminal Attack Controller Laser Target Designator, Enhanced Joint Terminal Attack Controller Laser Target Designator, and Thermal Laser Spot. Combined imager system.
Northrop Grumman
NGHTS is built around color day imagers, low light imagers and thermal imagers for capturing images in complete darkness. It also has a highly accurate GPS receiver and a celestial compass that provides azimuth readings. That is, the angle between a north or south point on the horizon and where an imaginary circle passing through that location intersects the horizon. The cleverness is that NGHTS is designed to locate the sun or stars at power-on, allowing azimuths to be calculated to within a fraction of a degree.
Sensors allow NGHTS to operate during the day, at night, and in dim light, often confusing targeting devices. It can also handle the effects of salt fog, temperature extremes, vibrations and altitude changes. It can transmit targeting coordinates directly to naval artillery units, missile batteries, aircraft, or ships, or illuminate targets with laser beams to guide attacks at longer ranges than previous systems.
Bob Gough, Vice President of Navigation, Targeting and Survivability at Northrop Grumman, said: “The NGHTS is lightweight, combines four systems into one portable device, and features state-of-the-art image processing, targeting, ranging, designation, and networking. This compact, multi-sensor, electro-optical/infrared device is , offloading Marines and maintaining connectivity while adding precision and safety to their mission.”
Source: Northrop Grumman
