F-16 Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared System for Night (LANTIRN) and the Night Close Air Support (CAS) Mission

This study examines the capabilities and limitations of the F-16 Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared System for Night LANTIRN to perform the night Close Air Support mission in Central Europe. The study examines the needs of the ground force commander for close air support in the night battle, assesses the threat posed by the Soviet integrated air defense systems, and measures the capabilities and limitations of the F-16 LANTIRN performing the night ground attack capabilities to the specific requirements of close air support and makes a recommendation based on the analysis of employment effectiveness. This study reveals that the need for night close air support is real. The LANTIRN system gives the F-16 pilot a new, survivable, night, low altitude attack capability in the central European threat environment. But the unique mission requirements to effectively conduct air attack in support of troops-in-contact at night are not adequately met by this weapon system. Keywords Jet fighters, Forward looking infrared systems, Infrared detectors. sdw