PATUXENT RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION, Md. -- The F/A-18 and EA-18G program office’s Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) program here was honored with an Aviation Week 2009 Program Excellence Award at a luncheon in Phoenix, Ariz., Nov. 3.

ATFLIR was selected as the recipient from three finalists in the Subsystem/Sustainment category from an initial field of 60 applicants.

“I can think of no system on the aircraft that has played a more critical role in the current combat ops in play today and over the past several years. There is no combat system used more in today's mission than the ATFLIR,” said Cmdr. Frank “Spanky” Morley, F/A-18 and EA-18G deputy program manager.

According to Aviation Week, program leadership experts designed the award to share lessons learned, as well as to strengthen and accelerate the development of acquisition and development program leaders. The award is a key way to focus on leadership development and program performance, dealing with complex issues and uncertainties that programs face.

Challenged to meet delivery schedules with quality parts, the ATFLIR team qualified second sources of parts and removed other barriers to the supply chain. As a result, ATFLIR pod and spares contract delivery schedules were met ahead of schedule with quality products.

"The F/A-18 and EA-18G Electro-Optical/Infrared Integrated Product Team (EO/IR IPT)is honored that the ATFLIR program was recognized by this award. Our ongoing partnership with the Raytheon team, and our cooperative relationship continue to benefit the warfighter in both capability and maintainability," said Martin Beaulieu, F/A-18 and EA-18G program office EO/IR IPT co-lead.

The ATFLIR is the targeting pod used for air-to-air and air-to-ground mission support on F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G aircraft. The pod provides the aircrew the ability to detect, track, locate, identify, and designate airborne and surface targets, in the daytime or at night.

The targeting pod also provides coordinates for GPS-guided weapons, designates targets for laser-guided bombs and supports bomb damage assessment. It helps in transmitting cockpit video, enabling the warfighter to see enemy troop movements, view around buildings and bends, and over hills.

The ATFLIR program is now moving into the sustainment phase, where it will work to further improve capabilities and reliability in alignment with the F/A-18E/F Flight Plan.

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Cutline: Glenn Brady, partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers, F/A-18 & EA-18G deputy program manager Cmdr. Frank Morley, ATFLIR product line director Roger Nordmeyer, and Anthony L. Velocci Jr., editor-in-chief, Aviation Week, attended a luncheon in Phoenix, Ariz. Nov. 3 where the ATFLIR program won Aviation Week’s Program Excellence Award in Subsystem/Sustainment. Photo Credit: Guy Mancuso