Lockheed Secures $233M for IRST Block II Giving US Jets Stealthy Long-Range Targeting Power
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Lockheed Martin received a $233 million firm-fixed-price award to deliver IRST21 Block II systems and initial spares to the U.S. Navy and Air National Guard, moving the sensor into full-rate production. The upgrade scales a long-wave, passive infrared search-and-track capability that improves long-range detection and targeting in radar-denied or electronically contested environments, strengthening fleet survivability against low-observable threats
On Monday, 20 October 2025, the U.S. infrared search and track (IRST) roadmap took a decisive step as reported by Lockheed Martin, with a firm-fixed-price award of $233 million for full-rate production of IRST21 Block II systems and initial spares for the U.S. Navy and Air National Guard. The program builds on a recent Initial Operational Capability milestone, signaling that the technology is ready to scale across front-line squadrons. In an era of radar clutter, jamming, and low-observable threats, a passive long-wave infrared sensor that quietly sees first and farther is strategically consequential. The announcement matters because it converts a promising counter-stealth toolset into fleet-wide combat mass at speed. For forces preparing for contested airspace, Block II is positioned as a near-term answer to long-range detection and targeting without emissions.
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A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet is fitted with Lockheed Martin’s IRST21 Block II on its centerline fuel tank. The system enables long-range passive detection and tracking, enhancing the aircraft’s effectiveness in radar-denied or contested environments (Picture Source: Lockheed Martin)
The system couples cutting-edge optics, advanced processors, and refined algorithms to detect, track, and generate targeting-quality data on airborne threats at extended ranges while remaining entirely passive. On the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, IRST21 is integrated on the nose of the centerline fuel tank to complement the AN/APG-79 radar, preserving performance in radar-denied or heavy electronic-attack environments. For F-15 and F-16 fleets, the capability is packaged in the modular Legion Pod, enabling rapid fit, transportability, and “sixth-generation” style sensing on legacy airframes without deep structural changes.
The operational history traces from early IRST21 fleeting and testing to the U.S. Navy’s recent IOC declaration that opened the gate to full-rate production. Development has emphasized long-wave IR detection physics, stabilization in a centerline-tank housing for carrier aircraft, and an open architecture that lets the pod talk to avionics, weapons, and data-links. The Block II refresh focuses on longer-range discrimination, shortened sensor-to-shooter timelines, and higher-confidence tracking to support beyond-visual-range employment, aligning with tactics validated in exercises and fleet evaluations.
Against peer systems, the advantages hinge on passivity, range, and fusion. Unlike radar, IRST does not betray the aircraft’s position with emissions, giving pilots “first look” opportunities in EM-contested fights. Compared with earlier U.S. IRST baselines, Block II’s processing and algorithms are described as a step change for range and track quality. In a broader context, it matches and seeks to surpass foreign IRST lineages, such as European and Russian nose-mounted or podded sensors, by delivering high-end performance while preserving multi-sensor fusion with AESA radars and modern BVR missiles. Historically, advances in IRST, from early mechanically scanned seekers to modern cooled focal-plane arrays, have coincided with doctrinal shifts toward emission control and cooperative targeting; Block II continues that arc with more reliable long-range cueing and weapon-quality tracks.
Strategically, the capability strengthens U.S. options for air superiority, maritime strike cover, and homeland defense under conditions of GPS degradation, radar denial, or heavy electronic warfare. It is tailored to scenarios featuring stealthy cruise missiles, low-observable aircraft, and saturating raids, where long-wave IR can reveal signatures that radars struggle to classify or are constrained from emitting against. For Indo-Pacific and Atlantic maritime theaters, Super Hornet squadrons gain a quiet counter-stealth screen for carrier groups. For Air National Guard F-15 and F-16 units, Legion-Pod-equipped fighters add a persistent, emission-silent search layer to defend critical infrastructure and track difficult targets at range, improving kill chains for beyond-visual-range intercepts while reducing the time adversaries have to react.
From a budget and contracting perspective, the latest firm-fixed-price award totals $233 million and covers full-rate production IRST21 Block II systems plus initial spares for the U.S. Navy and Air National Guard. This follows the Navy’s IOC declaration that cleared the way for fleet deployment and scaled procurement. With Block II now in full-rate production, the program transitions from development and limited quantities to broad fielding, indicating stable unit pricing and logistics planning consistent with a mature configuration. The most recent recipient of the contract is Lockheed Martin for IRST21 Block II, with deliveries aligned to Navy and ANG platform integration plans.
The acceleration to full-rate production turns a niche, platform-by-platform upgrade into a cross-fleet sensing standard that is designed to spot first, shoot first, and survive first in electronically contested skies. By pairing passive reach with rapid targeting on Super Hornets, F-15s, and F-16s, IRST21 Block II equips U.S. aircrews with a decisive counter-stealth edge and compresses decision time where it matters most, before the enemy knows they’ve been seen.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.
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Lockheed Martin received a $233 million firm-fixed-price award to deliver IRST21 Block II systems and initial spares to the U.S. Navy and Air National Guard, moving the sensor into full-rate production. The upgrade scales a long-wave, passive infrared search-and-track capability that improves long-range detection and targeting in radar-denied or electronically contested environments, strengthening fleet survivability against low-observable threats
On Monday, 20 October 2025, the U.S. infrared search and track (IRST) roadmap took a decisive step as reported by Lockheed Martin, with a firm-fixed-price award of $233 million for full-rate production of IRST21 Block II systems and initial spares for the U.S. Navy and Air National Guard. The program builds on a recent Initial Operational Capability milestone, signaling that the technology is ready to scale across front-line squadrons. In an era of radar clutter, jamming, and low-observable threats, a passive long-wave infrared sensor that quietly sees first and farther is strategically consequential. The announcement matters because it converts a promising counter-stealth toolset into fleet-wide combat mass at speed. For forces preparing for contested airspace, Block II is positioned as a near-term answer to long-range detection and targeting without emissions.
A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet is fitted with Lockheed Martin’s IRST21 Block II on its centerline fuel tank. The system enables long-range passive detection and tracking, enhancing the aircraft’s effectiveness in radar-denied or contested environments (Picture Source: Lockheed Martin)
The system couples cutting-edge optics, advanced processors, and refined algorithms to detect, track, and generate targeting-quality data on airborne threats at extended ranges while remaining entirely passive. On the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, IRST21 is integrated on the nose of the centerline fuel tank to complement the AN/APG-79 radar, preserving performance in radar-denied or heavy electronic-attack environments. For F-15 and F-16 fleets, the capability is packaged in the modular Legion Pod, enabling rapid fit, transportability, and “sixth-generation” style sensing on legacy airframes without deep structural changes.
The operational history traces from early IRST21 fleeting and testing to the U.S. Navy’s recent IOC declaration that opened the gate to full-rate production. Development has emphasized long-wave IR detection physics, stabilization in a centerline-tank housing for carrier aircraft, and an open architecture that lets the pod talk to avionics, weapons, and data-links. The Block II refresh focuses on longer-range discrimination, shortened sensor-to-shooter timelines, and higher-confidence tracking to support beyond-visual-range employment, aligning with tactics validated in exercises and fleet evaluations.
Against peer systems, the advantages hinge on passivity, range, and fusion. Unlike radar, IRST does not betray the aircraft’s position with emissions, giving pilots “first look” opportunities in EM-contested fights. Compared with earlier U.S. IRST baselines, Block II’s processing and algorithms are described as a step change for range and track quality. In a broader context, it matches and seeks to surpass foreign IRST lineages, such as European and Russian nose-mounted or podded sensors, by delivering high-end performance while preserving multi-sensor fusion with AESA radars and modern BVR missiles. Historically, advances in IRST, from early mechanically scanned seekers to modern cooled focal-plane arrays, have coincided with doctrinal shifts toward emission control and cooperative targeting; Block II continues that arc with more reliable long-range cueing and weapon-quality tracks.
Strategically, the capability strengthens U.S. options for air superiority, maritime strike cover, and homeland defense under conditions of GPS degradation, radar denial, or heavy electronic warfare. It is tailored to scenarios featuring stealthy cruise missiles, low-observable aircraft, and saturating raids, where long-wave IR can reveal signatures that radars struggle to classify or are constrained from emitting against. For Indo-Pacific and Atlantic maritime theaters, Super Hornet squadrons gain a quiet counter-stealth screen for carrier groups. For Air National Guard F-15 and F-16 units, Legion-Pod-equipped fighters add a persistent, emission-silent search layer to defend critical infrastructure and track difficult targets at range, improving kill chains for beyond-visual-range intercepts while reducing the time adversaries have to react.
From a budget and contracting perspective, the latest firm-fixed-price award totals $233 million and covers full-rate production IRST21 Block II systems plus initial spares for the U.S. Navy and Air National Guard. This follows the Navy’s IOC declaration that cleared the way for fleet deployment and scaled procurement. With Block II now in full-rate production, the program transitions from development and limited quantities to broad fielding, indicating stable unit pricing and logistics planning consistent with a mature configuration. The most recent recipient of the contract is Lockheed Martin for IRST21 Block II, with deliveries aligned to Navy and ANG platform integration plans.
The acceleration to full-rate production turns a niche, platform-by-platform upgrade into a cross-fleet sensing standard that is designed to spot first, shoot first, and survive first in electronically contested skies. By pairing passive reach with rapid targeting on Super Hornets, F-15s, and F-16s, IRST21 Block II equips U.S. aircrews with a decisive counter-stealth edge and compresses decision time where it matters most, before the enemy knows they’ve been seen.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.
