News Review: LM delivers first F-35 EOTS | ADM Feb 2010

1 February 2010

Lockheed Martin has marked the successful start of low rate initial production (LRIP) on the F-35 Lightning II Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS).

The first production units have been delivered to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Fort Worth, integration onto the aircraft.

Embedded into the F-35's fuselage with an innovative faceted sapphire window, the low-drag, stealthy EOTS is the world's first and only sensor combining forward-looking infrared and infrared search and track functionality.

The F-35 EOTS will provide Lightning II pilots with significant air-to-air and air-to-ground situational awareness in a single compact and completely passive sensor; production is now ramping up to 200 units a year.

"Our team looks forward to meeting its commitment to provide a superior targeting system to F-35 pilots around the world as we gear up to produce more than 3,000 units," Rich Hinkle, program director of F-35 Lightning II EOTS at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control said.

"This delivery marks a pivotal achievement for the EOTS as we transition from a system design and development program to a production program."

The F-35 EOTS builds upon the success of Lockheed Martin's Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod to provide high-resolution imagery, automatic target tracking, infrared-search-and-track, laser designation and range finding, as well as laser spot tracking, all at greatly increased standoff ranges.

Modular components allow the F-35 EOTS to be maintained on the flight line.