OVERVIEW: The AN/AAS-38B Nite Hawk FLIR targeting pod is pod-mounted thermal designation system used primarily by the F/A-18 aircraft to conduct night or all weather attack missions.

DETAILS: The AN/AAS-38B Nite Hawk FLIR targeting pod is used primarily for attack against land targets.  It features incorporates a laser designator and a thermal imaging FLIR and incorporates an automatic target tracker.  It also includes a laser-spot tracker to search, aquire and track targets designated by other platforms.  While primarily used for ground targets, it has an improved capability of detecting and  tracking air targets at up to 100nm range.  

NOTES: Entered service in 1994. Phased out of US service in 2008.
 

SOURCES:  Guide to Military Equipment and Civil Aviation. "AN/AAR-50." Accessed October 26, 2014. http://www.deagel.com/Navigation-and-Targeting-Systems/ANAAR-50_a000917001.aspx ; Friedman, Noman The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems, 1997-1998, pg. 205-06 ; Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. "AN/AAS-38." Accessed October 26, 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/AAS-38 ; Federation Of American Scientists -. "AAS-38A/B Nite Hawk - Smart Weapons." Accessed October 26, 2014. http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/smart/aas-38.htm ; Janes

