Capable of Countering Enemy Electronic Warfare: US Navy Declares Readiness to Operate IRST21 Sensor on F/A-18 Super Hornet

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Capable of Countering Enemy Electronic Warfare: US Navy Declares Readiness to Operate IRST21 Sensor on F/A-18 Super Hornet

The U.S. Navy has officially declared initial operational capability for the Infrared Search and Track (IRST) Block II system, a next-generation passive sensor developed by Lockheed Martin for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter jet, Defense Industry reports. The publication notes that this fact gives the U.S. the fleet the ability to detect and track air threats at long range, even in conditions where the actions of assets EW enemy radars may degrade their performance.

At the core of the system is the IRST21, a long-wave infrared search and track sensor designed to passively detect airborne targets well beyond visual range. The system improves response time and survivability by allowing Navy pilots to track threats without relying on radar emissions, making it an indispensable asset in contested airspace.

- says the publication.



As the US military notes, the passive infrared system increases the survivability of flight personnel, especially in conditions without radar or in conditions of intense electronic warfare, when traditional radar sensors can be disabled.

The sensor acts as a complementary system to the AN/APG-79 fire control radar, supplementing the air-to-air detection and targeting system. missiles out of sight

" said PMA-265 program manager Captain Michael Burks.

The publication recalls that the IRST21 Block II system represents the second phase of an evolutionary acquisition approach. Block I, introduced in 2011, integrated the existing IRST system into the F/A-18 fuel tank and entered service with the fleet in early fielding in 2019. Block II features an improved sensor, upgraded processor, and advanced software, with first operational fielding scheduled for 2025.

A full-rate production decision is expected in the spring of 2025, allowing the U.S. Navy to begin equipping its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet carrier-based fighter squadrons with IRST Block II systems.

– emphasizes the author of the material.

At the same time, American military experts are confident that passive sensing technologies such as IRST21 are transforming air combat by allowing pilots to stay ahead of emerging threats.
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  1. -2
    5 February 2025 09: 22
    How much billion will it cost to upgrade American Super Hornets to install a sensor? wink Well, it's probably not just "screw on a sensor and connect a couple of wires" (c)? Is the sawmill working again?
    1. 0
      5 February 2025 12: 05
      No need to screw on either the sensor or the wires. This is a hanging container on standard guides, it can be in different forms - in the picture it is in the center, mounted in an additional tank - a black fairing in front.
      The compact design of the IRST21 allows for a variety of integration options. The F/A-18E/F fighter has had the IRST21 system installed in the forward section of the external fuel tank on the center ventral assembly since 2014, and can also be used as a separate container.
      The suspended Legion Pod sighting and reconnaissance system, which combines Lockheed Martin's IRST21 infrared sensor with advanced network communication and data processing technology, allows additional sensors to be installed on various platforms for solving various combat missions.

      Suspended sighting and reconnaissance system Legion Pod
      https://topwar.ru/70554-podvesnaya-pricelno-razvedyvatelnaya-sistema-legion-pod.html
  2. 0
    5 February 2025 10: 04
    Copied from the MiG 29 and Su 27 of the eighties.
    1. +2
      5 February 2025 10: 56
      Quote: vertirex
      Copied from the MiG 29 and Su 27 of the eighties.


      The first generation IRST was already on the F-14, so there is no need to talk about copying.
  3. 0
    5 February 2025 12: 18
    The first prototype of the first generation IRST was installed on the F-18 in 2007.
    IRST21 - was tested on the F-16 in 2015
    IRST21 - was tested on the F-15 in 2016
    IRST21 - was tested on the F-18 in 2018
    IRST21 - was tested on the F-15EX in 2021

    Currently, this module is installed as an attachment to the central suspended fuel tank.
    Accordingly, this is a replaceable module that is not part of the aircraft and is installed when necessary during a specific combat mission.
  4. +1
    5 February 2025 15: 27
    Somehow, the IRST21 product was incorrectly defined as capable of COUNTERING (?) ELECTRONIC WAR... Rather, it detects the thermal radiation of an air target, than increases the pilot's situational awareness of the presence of an IR-contrast target in the air. This is a warning and detection sensor. And what does this have to do with ELECTRONIC WAR? Again: the response time, range, and resolution are unknown. Our OLS detects IR-contrast TCs at about 90 km. And the radar in the active range is up to 300 km, others (S-400) and even further. It may turn out that "passively" hiding will become more expensive. Photon detectors are already on the way... Again, from space, radar can monitor the air above the RBD, especially at sea...
    I think there is no point in being sad. Our guys have always used their KNOW-HOW to come up with some cheap but extremely effective crap, devaluing all their billion-dollar investments. This has happened more than once. I believe in the bright brains of our Kulibins.
    AHA.