Lockheed Martin secures $245 million contract for 48 IRST Block II pods for U.S. and Australian Super Hornet fighter aircraft

Lockheed Martin received a $245 million contract for 48 IRST Block II infrared search-and-track pods for US and Australian F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, announced on September 29, 2026. The order includes three Australian pods, spare parts and diagnostic equipment, with completion scheduled for February 2031 and funding obligated at award. Mounted in the forward section of a centerline fuel tank, the passive sensor supplements radar without transmitting a search signal. Block II introduces a modified electro-optical sensor head, a new central processor and updated software, building on a configuration that entered operational service in 2025.