Identification of the IRST’s system concept begins.
1979
General Electric begins mission analysis to determine the technical requirements for Infrared Search and Track (IRST).
1981
Work begins on IRST advance development model, to include integration work on the F-15A.
Hardware optimization phase begins, resulting in a producible design matched to the F-14.
1984
1989
Full-scale development version of IRST begins reliability and quality testing.
1990
General Electric receives $22 million contract option funding award for production of 20 IRST systems.
Delivery of first unit set of IRST systems, achieving initial operating capability. Made for the U.S. Navy’s F-14D Tomcat.
October 1991
1992
Development of small-format IRST for “Hornet 2000,” revolutionizing compact packaging design.
1995
By 1995, 60 IRST systems for the F-14 completed more than 200,000 operational hours during deployments on U.S. aircraft carriers.
Lockheed Martin makes its first international IRST deliveries.
2004
1997
Lockheed Martin’s IRST selected for the U.S. Air Force YAL-1 Airborne Laser program, showcasing IRST capability for missile defense.
2007
Lockheed Martin and Boeing complete first flight of prototype IRST for F-18 E/F.
Lockheed Martin begins work on the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18E/F IRST Program of Record.
2008
2010
Lockheed Martin achieves first flight of a prototype IRST pod, transportable between platforms including the F-16 and F-15.
2014
Lockheed Martin introduces IRST21®, advancing IRST capabilities to meet 21st Century warfighting requirements.
February 2015
Lockheed Martin announces the Legion Pod® podded configuration of IRST21, enabling plug-and-play operations across fighter and non-fighter aircraft platforms.
Legion Pod completes its first flight on F-16, bringing IRST21 to the U.S. Air Force.
June 2015
July 2016
Legion Pod completes its first flight on the F-15C, delivering critical passive attack capability across the U.S. Air Force Combat Air Force (CAF).
August 2017
Legion Pod selected as the winner of the U.S. Air Force’s F-15C IRST competition.
November 2018
Lockheed Martin awarded $108M to develop IRST21 Block II for the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18E/F, the most advanced production IRST.
IRST21 first fielded on F/A-18E/F, improving pilot lethality and survivability to achieve unmatched threat detection and defeat emerging threats.
March 2019
May 2020
Lockheed Martin awarded $485M IDIQ contract for IRST systems, Sniper ATP and LANTIRN production and upgrades.
July 2020
Legion Pod’s first operational flight on F-16, utilizing an open system architecture design to support joint all-domain operations.
Lockheed Martin announces embedded configuration of IRST21 for new production F-16 – named Legion-ES™.
November 2020
January 2021
Lockheed Martin and GA-ASI integrate Legion Pod onto the Avenger RPA in first flight test. This demonstrates a continued platform agnostic system, achieving a quick integration timeline without costly modifications.
Lockheed Martin awarded a contract to add IRST21 Block II capabilities to Legion Pod and develop software for integration onto the F-15EX platform, highlighting Legion Pod’s quick adaptability.
Lockheed Martin delivers the first F-35C to the U.S. Navy at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, for pilot and maintainer training.
June 22, 2013
Dec.13, 2013
Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force inaugurate the 100th F-35 produced.
Aug. 14, 2013
F-35B accomplishes the first night vertical landing and short takeoff at sea aboard the USS WASP during the second phase of ship suitability testing.
Luke Air Force Base receives first of 144 F-35s.
Mar.14, 2014
May 28, 2014
Eglin Air Force Base receives final F-35A, marking the 58th Fighter Squadron as the first complete Air Force F-35A squadron.
U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Callaway
The first F-35B is assigned to VMFAT-501 arrives at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.
July 17, 2014
May 19, 2015
Luke Air Force Base officially begins training pilots.
Nov. 14, 2014
The F-35C completes the first phase of developmental testing aboard an aircraft carrier three days ahead of schedule.
U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Aneshea S. Yee
U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman James Hensley
Hill Air Force Base receives first two F-35As.
Oct.14, 2015
July 31, 2015
Aug. 2, 2016
The U.S. Air Force officially declares F-35A Initial Operational Capability.
The Marines declare F-35B Initial Operational Capability with 10 jets at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Remington Hall
U.S. Air Force photo by David Perry
U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar
April 12, 2018
The F-35 completes most comprehensive flight test program in aviation history.
February 2019
September 2019
Air National Guard receives its first two F-35 aircraft.
The U.S. Navy declares Initial Operational Capability
Continuing to advance the passive fight mission…
Lockheed Martin announces new datalink capability that can be added to the Legion Pod IRST21 sensor, further enhancing this key component of future joint all-domain operations in the 21st Century battlespace.
June 2021
< Back to the beginning
