Super Hornet infrared system gets green light

An infrared search and track (IRST) system for the F/A-18 Super Hornet has been green-lighted for low-rate initial production, according to a Lockheed Martin announcement.

The system consists of Lockheed's IRST21 sensor, the GE Aviation FPU-13 Fuel Tank Assembly and the Meggitt Defense Industry Environmental Control unit. The IRST21 is the next generation of older IR systems that flew on the F-14 and F-15.

"Lockheed Martin and Boeing have proven the maturity of the IRST21 sensor and the IRST system and are poised to get this advanced capability out to the fleet to support Navy carrier strike group objectives," said Ken Fuhr, fixed-wing program director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

More In Sensors

Amid demand for satellite support, Space Force leans on commercial

The service awarded contracts to two firms — Auria, formerly Boecore, and Sphinx Defense — to establish the cloud-based antenna marketplace prototype.

Defense officials advocate for diverse target-tracking architecture

Defense officials say a moving target indicator capability that includes both air and space assets is needed until the department defines its architecture.

Varda lands third space capsule, carrying key hypersonic flight data

Funded by AFRL, Varda’s W-3 capsule landed May 13 at Koonibba Test Range in South Australia.

AI company Helsing unveils swarming underwater surveillance drones

The company’s artificial-intelligence tool Lura is at the heart of the setup, processing data from SG-1 Fathom drones.

General Atomics touts UK breakthrough in drone airspace integration

The achievement has been a long time coming for the U.S. drone vendor after spending spending $500 million and working for 11 years.