XBradTC

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XBradTC

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F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and IRST

Kind of “behind the power curve” on this but Lockheed Martin had achieved “Milestone C” for the IRST-21 flight tested aboard a US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet.  As I understand it milestone C, pending approval, would be the before the IRST is approved for low-rate initial production. See the confusing figure below: Yeah I know that…

In February 2014, the aircrew of an F/A-18 Super Hornet carrying the Navy’s infrared search and track (IRST) system, inspects the aircraft before the first flight with the pod at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. IRST reached a critical milestone Dec. 2, authorizing low-rate initial production of the sensor pod system. (Photo courtesy Lockheed Martin)
In February 2014, the aircrew of an F/A-18 Super Hornet carrying the Navy’s infrared search and track (IRST) system, inspects the aircraft before the first flight with the pod at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. IRST reached a critical milestone Dec. 2, authorizing low-rate initial production of the sensor pod system. (Photo courtesy Lockheed Martin)

Kind of “behind the power curve” on this but Lockheed Martin had achieved “Milestone C” for the IRST-21 flight tested aboard a US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet.  As I understand it milestone C, pending approval, would be the before the IRST is approved for low-rate initial production. See the confusing figure below:

dafaq?
Dafaq?

Yeah I know that we attempt to clarify things here but I’m not even going to attempt to talk about the DoD acquisition process (that’s what the comment section is for) so my intent here is to give you “the big picture” as to exactly where the IRST-21 is in terms of being fleet deployed.

Lockheed Martin's IRST-21.
Lockheed Martin’s IRST-21.

The Lockheed Martin IRST is a self contained passive infrared sensor that’s designed to search air-to-air targets. Again the sensor is passive, meaning it doesn’t emit detectable signals that could give away the platform’s presence to the enemy. The IRST-21 on the Super Hornet is installed on the nose of the aircraft’s centerline fuel tank can be integrated into other tactical airborne platforms.

See the brochure here:

Investment in IRSTs really isn’t new they’ve been around for quite a while but it speaks to the threat that’s out there even with stealth aircraft being used by potential adversaries.

Oh yeah and this too <cough, cough>:

The AN/AXX-1 TCS (televison camera system) is left and the IRST is right on the F-14D Tomcat.
The AN/AXX-1 TCS (televison camera system) is left and the IRST is right on the F-14D Tomcat.

Just sayin’ baby 🙂

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  1. xbradtc

    Don’t forget the TI AAA-4 IRST on the F-4B and C.

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  2. LT Rusty

    You know why they hard mounted the IRST to the airframe of the Tomcat, rather than to an external fuel tank like on the Super Hornet?

    If you guessed “because the Tomcat didn’t need external fuel tanks to get weapons to the target” you’d be correct.

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  3. Shaun Evertson

    Just sayin’ too…

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