Lockheed Martin awarded Legion Pod Development and LRIP contracts

“With a fully integrated Legion Pod on the F-15 Eagle, the U.S. Air Force will have a revolutionary capability to counter the most potent threats,” Michael Williamson, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control

Boeing has given Lockheed Martin two contracts: first is a 28-month Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract for the Legion Pod and a Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) for 19 Legion Pods.

Lockheed Martin will integrate, test and qualify Legion Pod for the U.S. Air Force’s F-15C fleet. The first EMD units will be available in early 2019.

The first production and spares deliveries will begin in 2020 supporting the U.S. Air Force’s Initial Operational Capability and fielding.

“With a fully integrated Legion Pod on the F-15 Eagle, the U.S. Air Force will have a revolutionary capability to counter the most potent threats,” said Michael Williamson, vice president of Sensors & Global Sustainment at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “Concurrent integration and production is a testament to both Legion Pod’s maturity and proven advanced capability that is urgently needed in the field.”

In 2017, Legion Pod was selected as the Infrared Search and Track system for the U.S. Air Force’s F-15C fleet. Transportable between platforms, future expansion plans for Legion Pod include the F-15E, F-16, as well as unmanned systems. Flexible by design and production-ready, Legion Pod is set to serve as the next sensor system of choice for fixed-wing aircraft.

The pod is mounted on the centreline of the F-15 – mirroring what the Super Hornet Block III is doing – and the IRST21 long-wave infrared sensor being used is the same as the navy version.

The modular infrared search-and-track (IRST) sensor package has already flown on the Eagle, and has been chosen by the F-15 original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to replace the current interim IRST that is packaged in the Talon HATE communications pod carried on the aircraft’s centreline.

Lockheed Martin will produce more than 130 systems, which will be delivered for aircraft integration.

Photo credit: Lockheed Martin

Artwork courtesy of AircraftProfilePrints.com