Mary-Louise Hoffman
The U.S. Navy has granted Lockheed Martin approval to start producing infrared search and track sensors for the branch’s Super Hornet aircraft.
Lockheed said Thursday it collaborated with Boeing to develop and integrate the F/A-18 IRST technology and received the green light to move forward with low-rate initial production work.
The system is comprised of a Lockheed-built sensor, GE Aviation‘s FPU-13 fuel tank assembly and a Meggitt-made environmental control unit.
“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’s missiles and fire control business.
The two companies developed the platform with the aim of helping F/A-18 pilots detect potential airborne threats at long ranges as well as increase airmen’s situational awareness.
According to Lockheed, the IRST technology demonstrated production readiness during F/A-18 flight tests.
