[Yo-Yo]

Gonna get expensive real fast if Hornet drivers start jettisoning their centerline fuel tanks in combat.

[magslinger]

SONOBUOY PING!

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[Talisker]

IRST, the Super Hornet’s Future ‘EO Radar’ Cleared for Development

This reminds me of the first (to my knowledge) U.S. application of the "let's-put-a-humongous-radar-on-a-fighter" concept, which was the WWII Northrop P-61 Black Widow Nightfighter.

[El Gato]

Seems a strange place to put it. the F-101B, and several Russian/Soviet fights, Mig-29, Su-27, etc, had/have IRST. They put them on the top of the fuselage, just forward of the windscreen or just aft of the radome.

[lentulusgracchus]

(Article) The pod-mounted IRST system is developed for the Boeing Super Hornet by Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control business unit.

Did they clear waivers with the Chinese patent owners?

Checked for software trapdoors, right, fellas?

Got Taiwanese chips?

On a more serious note, you'd think they'd mount two: one where the Russians do it, and another (as part maybe of a FLIR installation?) forward of the nosewheel bay door.

Might be an idea to have a third one atop a vertical stab, facing aft.