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Lockheed Martin Tests Networked Legion Pods to Sharpen F-16 Passive Targeting in Radar-Denied Airspace
Lockheed Martin flight-tested two F-16s carrying Legion infrared search-and-track pods connected through a dedicated pod-to-pod data link. Sharing passive tracks allowed the aircraft to build a more precise picture without depending on their radars, which can reveal position or be degraded by jamming. The demonstration supports long-range detection and cooperative targeting of airborne threats in contested electromagnetic conditions. It does not by itself establish an operational configuration, but it reduces integration risk for a networked passive-sensing capability that could improve survivability and engagement quality across dispersed fighter formations.