Lockheed Martin wins $108M Boeing Contract for IRST21 Sensor System

Lockheed Martin has received a Boeing contract for phase II of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Block II Infrared Search and Track (IRST) program for the US Navy.

The contract includes development, platform integration, flight test, and qualification of the IRST21 Block II sensor system that will enhance IRST21's detection, tracking and ranging capabilities in radar-denied environments  through the use of infrared search and track technology to passively detect and track airborne threats, the company said in a statement Monday.

Contributing to both the US Navy and US Airforce, IRST21 will deliver warfighting capability and support US Combatant Commanders' operational demands. Currently, IRST21 is mounted in the nose of the F/A-18E/F's centerline fuel tank and in Legion Pod for other fighter and on-fighter platforms. The sensor system is in full rate production and has logged over 300,000 flight hours on the US Navy's F-14 and F/A-18E/F, international F-15 platforms, and the US Air Force's F-15C and F-16.