Posted on 09/19/2017 11:21:57 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin's (NYSE: LMT) Legion Pod® has been selected as the Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system for the U.S. Air Force's F-15C fleet. Lockheed Martin will produce more than 130 systems, which will be delivered for aircraft integration.
Lockheed Martin’s Legion Pod® has been selected as the Infrared Search and Track system for the U.S. Air Force’s F-15C fleet.
Equipped with the company's IRST21® infrared sensor and advanced data processing capabilities, Legion Pod provides long-range detection and tracking of airborne threats in radar-denied environments. The Boeing Company, serving as the U.S. Air Force's prime contractor, source selection authority and aircraft integrator, will award Lockheed Martin an engineering, manufacturing, development and production contract for Legion Pod in 2018.
"With a rapid delivery schedule and unmatched sensing capabilities, Legion Pod will immediately enhance our warfighters' operations and address a passive attack capability gap," said Paul Lemmo, vice president of Fire Control/Special Operations Forces Contractor Logistics Support Services at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "Our proven partnerships with Boeing, including on our U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F IRST21 and international F-15 IRST products, will ensure successful execution of the F-15C Legion Pod program for the U.S. Air Force."
Lockheed Martin will deliver its first Legion Pod for the program in 2018, with additional deliveries planned for 2019. Lockheed Martin previously completed more than 25 flight tests with Legion Pod on the F-15C and F-16, successfully demonstrating its integration, detection and tracking capabilities.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 97,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.
Fancy. Looks like they are making the F-15 do what the F-14 did. Only better and more modern and networked.
Since the government shuttered the F-22 program, the only choice is to upgrade our existing aircraft until the next generation is brought on line.
There was talk about bringing the F-22 program back or go next generation.
I honestly believe the use of manned air warfare is going to be reduced significantly in the future.
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It already has. As of this year the USAF has more drone pilots than manned airplane pilots.
Drones are the future. They can be easily replaced, but an operator, not so much.
"Well, at least ONE of us will be prayin' for the electrical souls of dem drones! Can I get an Am-Asimov!"
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My initial reading keyed on the words "radar-denied environment" which is significantly different. The F-14 had to illuminate its targets with its onboard AWG-9 radar, which would broadcast its presence, even though the Phoenix missiles had their own terminal guidance.
If I read correctly, this would allow the F-15s to see what is out there without revealing themselves by turning on their radar.
That would be pretty slick...
Alternately, we can send swarms of radar-equipped drones to illuminate targets for stealthy planes following behind.
True...but the point is, in a “radar-denied” environment, the reason radar is denied may be more than just protecting the individual platform that emits, it may be radar-denied to hide the existence of any presence at all.
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