Lockheed Martin demos Legion sensor pod on F-15

ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 21 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin's Legion Pod sensor system has successfully performed its first flight test on an F-15C aircraft.

The pod is a a multi-function sensor system and supports collaborative long-range detection and tracking of airborne threats .

The pod was mounted on an F-15C at Jacksonville Air National Guard Base in Florida. Lockheed Martin said the operation did not involve modification of the aircraft because of Legion's common interface.

"Similar to last year's F-16 flight tests, Legion Pod successfully tracked multiple airborne targets in representative scenarios," said Paul Lemmo, vice president of Fire Control/SOF CLSS at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "With our most advanced technology, a hot production line and established logistics depot, Legion Pod is ready to fulfill urgent capability gaps and support critical air-to-air missions."

The Legion Pod system features an IRST21 infrared sensor and advanced networking and data processing technology and accommodates additional sensors. It is available to meet the requirements of the U.S. Air Force's F-15C infrared search-and-track program of record, which include long-range detection and tracking in a wide field of view. Legion Pod also offers a variety of capabilities for other fighter and non-fighter aircraft.