Infrared search and track sensor tested by Navy on Super Hornets
NewsFebruary 19, 2014
ST. LOUIS. U.S. Navy officials completed the first tests of the Infrared Search and Track (IRST) sensor on a F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft -- produced by Boeing. The sensor looks for hard-to-detect targets over long distances.
Boeing and Lockheed Martin engineers are designing and integrating the IRST to upgrade the combat capability of the Super Hornets. When radar is not available, this retrofit will enable operators to find targets and deploy the necessary weapon for the mission, say Lockheed Martin officials.
The IRST system is part of a $135 million contract awarded in 2011 and is expected to be deployed by 2017. The technology was first tested last year on a Boeing King Air test aircraft, which enabled cost reductions by advancing the technology before installation on Super Hornets.
