Lockheed's latest infrared search-and-track pod takes first flight | World Defense

Lockheed's latest infrared search-and-track pod takes first flight

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Daniel Wasserbly, Washington, DC - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
30 June 2015

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The Legion Pod is shown here mounted on the centreline pylon of an F-15C Eagle fighter. Source: Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin's Legion Pod, a modular infrared search-and-track (IRST) sensor package, tracked various airborne targets during its first test flight, the company announced on 30 June.

"Legion Pod was integrated onto the F-16 without making any hardware or software changes to the aircraft," Lockheed Martin said in a statement. "Additional flight tests on the F-16 and F-15C will continue throughout the year."

The company hopes its Legion Pod can meet a US Air Force (USAF) requirement to fit its Boeing F-15C Eagle fighter aircraft with an IRST capability.

Legion Pod can house various sensors, but in this application the company fitted its IRST21, a new generation of Lockheed Martin's legacy IRST sensor.

The company describes IRST21 as "a passive, long-range sensor system" that uses IRST technology to detect and track airborne threats with weapon-quality accuracy, and the design allows for mounting in various ways.
Lockheed's latest infrared search-and-track pod takes first flight - IHS Jane's 360
 
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