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Lockheed Martin spotlights new tracking pod system

Lockheed Martin says its Legion sensor pod system for detecting airborne targets proved effective during its first flight test.

By Richard Tomkins
An F-16 carries Lockheed Martin's Legion sensor pod on flight test. Photo by Randy Crites courtesy Lockheed Martin
An F-16 carries Lockheed Martin's Legion sensor pod on flight test. Photo by Randy Crites courtesy Lockheed Martin

ORLANDO, Fla., July 1 (UPI) -- A multi-sensor system for tracking multiple airborne targets has demonstrated its capabilities during its first flight test, Lockheed Martin announced.

The system is called the Legion Pod and was integrated onto an F-16 fighter without the need for hardware or software changes to the aircraft.

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Additional details of the test -- conducted at Fort Worth, Texas -- were not disclosed, but Lockheed Martin said the system would continue to be tested throughout the year using F-16 and F-15C aircraft.

"Legion Pod is a production-ready, multi-sensor system," said Paul Lemmo, vice president of fire control at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "With our most advanced hardware and software, a hot production line and an established logistics depot, Legion Pod provides a high-performance, low-risk, affordable capability to warfighters today."

Legion Pod is equipped with an IRST21 infrared sensor and advanced networking and data processing technology for high-fidelity detection and tracking of airborne targets. It also accommodates additional sensors without system or aircraft modifications.

Lockheed Martin said Legion Pod is available to meet the requirements of the U.S. Air Force F-15C infrared search-and-track program of record, including long-range detection and tracking in a wide field of view.

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Legion Pod features open systems architecture enabling its use on other fighter and non-fighter aircraft.

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