Rafael Unveils LITENING 5 Pod to Help Fighter Jets Detect and Intercept Drones

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems will showcase its LITENING 5 multi-mission targeting pod at the Farnborough Airshow 2026 in London. The pod, mounted under or beside fighter jets, integrates advanced systems for target detection, intelligence gathering, and precise weapons guidance. Rafael highlights the system's relevance amid the growing use of drones in global combat zones and the need for rapid, accurate responses to small, fast, and hard-to-detect threats.

The LITENING 5 pod is the world's most widely used targeting and navigation pod, installed on over 25 aircraft types and operated by 28 air forces. It supports all mission phases from target acquisition and tracking to weapon guidance, even in complex combat conditions. Rafael emphasizes the pod’s automatic detection and tracking of drones, laser designation for various guided munitions, and real-time data sharing among forces, significantly reducing the time between threat detection and interception.

Equipped with advanced electro-optical sensors, the system can identify low-signature targets that evade conventional detection. Rafael notes that the German Air Force recently selected 90 LITENING 5 pods for its Eurofighter Typhoon jets, reflecting strong confidence in the system among leading European and NATO air forces. Rafael CEO Yoav Turgeman stated that the pod’s combination of sensors, algorithms, and precise targeting enables fighter jets to effectively counter fast, complex drone threats, a capability already proven in operational theaters worldwide.