Lockheed Martin announced Wednesday it had received a contract from Boeing to continue developing system requirements to employ Lockheed’s IRST sensor system on USAF F-15C legacy fighters. The company already has the sensor in development for the Navy’s F/A-18EF. Ken Fuhr, fixed-wing program director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said, the contract “solidifies Lockheed Martin and Boeing’s partnership to provide first-to-see, first-to-shoot capability across the services.” According to the company release, the passive IRST sensor system, either used alone or with the F-15’s other sensors, provides increased on-board situational awareness while detecting, identifying, and engaging enemy targets at extended ranges.” Upgrades to the legacy F-15C/D fleet—intended to keep it viable until at least 2025—also include addition of a new active electronically scanned array radar; the Air National Guard received its first AESA-equipped F-15C earlier this month.
Members of the House Armed Services Committee say the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile program has been set back three months due to the ongoing government shutdown. The comment is noteworthy because the JATM's status has been kept tightly under wraps.
