Aircraft
Development IRST Flies On Super Hornet
A test Super Hornet prepares to fly with the tank-mounted IRST sensor. The installation is cleaner than the first trials version flown in 2009. (Photo: Navair)
A test Super Hornet prepares to fly with the tank-mounted IRST sensor. The installation is cleaner than the first trials version flown in 2009. (Photo: Navair)

On February 11 a U.S. Navy Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet made the type’s first flight equipped with an infrared search and track sensor. Developed by Lockheed Martin, the IRST sensor is intended to give the Block II Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler a long-range, passive detection and tracking capability against multiple air targets to augment the aircraft’s APG-79 AESA radar and other sensors. Fleet fielding is scheduled for 2017.

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