Lockheed Martin has secured a U.S. government contract to deliver 55 Legion Infrared Search and Track (IRST) pods to the Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF), strengthening Taiwan’s airborne surveillance and interception capabilities, reported Reuters. The sale was approved under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) framework in late December 2025 and announced by the U.S. Department of Defense.
Work under the agreement will be performed primarily in Orlando, Florida, with deliveries scheduled to conclude by June 2031. U.S. officials framed the sale as a defensive capability enhancement consistent with long-standing policy toward Taiwan. The contract addresses an urgent operational requirement identified by Taiwan’s defense authorities as regional air activity around the island continues to intensify. This is a much larger development in the part of a geological development where China canceled close to a million flights to Japan after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that Japan might intervene militarily in Taiwan, if China attacks Taiwan.
Taiwan Air Force F-16 Fighter Aircraft Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aircraft type | Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon |
| Operator | Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF) |
| Upgraded fleet | 140 F-16A/B Block 20 upgraded to F-16V |
| New-build fleet | 66 F-16V Block 70 ordered from the United States |
| Total advanced F-16s | Over 200 |
| Primary radar | Northrop Grumman AN/APG-83 AESA |
| Planned IRST integration | Legion IRST Enhanced Sensor pods |
| Primary operating bases | Chiayi Air Base; Hualien Air Base |
| Primary mission roles | Air defense, interception, maritime strike |
The F-16 fleet forms the backbone of Taiwan’s tactical airpower and is central to its air defense doctrine. The combination of upgraded and new-build aircraft allows the RoCAF to sustain numerical strength while modernizing combat capability.
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What the Legion IRST pod is and how it works
The Legion IRST pod is a passive infrared sensor system designed to detect and track airborne targets based on thermal emissions rather than reflected radar signals. Mounted externally, the pod allows fighters to identify and follow aircraft without revealing their own position through radar use.
Key operational advantages include:
-
Passive long-range detection in radar-denied environments
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Improved tracking of low-observable aircraft
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Enhanced survivability during high-intensity operations
Lockheed Martin states that the Legion pod is fully integrated with modern mission computers, allowing seamless sensor fusion with onboard avionics. Some of its features include:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Physical Configuration | Housed in a 16-inch diameter pod structure containing the IRST21 sensor and an advanced processor for high-fidelity air-to-air detection and tracking. |
| Sensor Capability | Designed to detect and track airborne targets using infrared search and track (IRST) technology in complex threat environments. |
| Modular Design | Accommodates additional sensors within the existing structure, allowing simultaneous multi-sensor operation without aircraft or system modifications. |
| Aircraft Integration | Successfully integrated and flight-tested on F-16 and F-15C aircraft, demonstrating operational detection and tracking performance. |
| Plug-and-Play Interface | Features a common interface enabling rapid integration onto multiple aircraft types without altering the aircraft’s operational flight program. |
| Open Architecture | Supports multiple sensor payloads operating concurrently, configurable to meet specific customer mission requirements. |
| Production and Sustainment | Manufactured at Lockheed Martin facilities in the United States, with existing depots and repair infrastructure reducing life-cycle and sustainment costs. |
The Pentagon was quoted in Reuters as having said:
“This contract provides for the procurement and delivery of fifty-five Infrared Search and Track Legion Enhanced Sensor pods, processors, pod containers, and processor containers required to meet the urgent operational need of the Taiwan Air Force,”
Why Taiwan’s F-16V modernization makes IRST integration critical
Taiwan’s Peace Phoenix Rising program upgraded 140 legacy F-16A/B aircraft to the F-16V configuration, introducing:
- AESA radar
- New mission computers
- Advanced electronic warfare suites
- Modern cockpit displays.
These upgrades elevated the aircraft to a 4.5-generation standard despite the age of their airframes.
In parallel, Taiwan ordered 66 new-build F-16V Block 70 fighters, representing the most advanced production variant of the F-16. Once deliveries are complete, Taiwan will operate over 200 advanced F-16s, the largest F-16V fleet globally. But the history of this traces back to the times before the pandemic:
- In 2019: Washington approved the sale of 66 new-build F-16V Block 70 fighters to Taiwan under a Foreign Military Sales program.
- In 2024: The United States approved a $320 million package to support F-16 sustainment and AESA radar maintenance for Taiwan’s fighter fleet.
The Legion IRST pod complements this modernization by providing a passive detection layer that reduces reliance on active sensors. Defense analysts view this as essential for countering increasingly sophisticated regional air threats.
According to the US Department of War, Lockheed Martin was “awarded a ceiling of $328,500,000 undefinitized contract action issued as a letter contract for Department of Defense and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Sniper, Infrared Search and Track, and Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night fixed wing hardware production“:
“This contract provides for the procurement and delivery of fifty-five Infrared Search and Track Legion Enhanced Sensor pods, processors, pod containers, and processor containers required to meet the urgent operational need of the Taiwan Air Force. FMS funds in the amount of $157,300,000 are being obligated at the time of award”.
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Strategic Rationale Behind the IRST Procurement
By integrating IRST across multiple squadrons, Taiwan gains flexibility in deploying fighters without broadcasting radar emissions. This capability is particularly relevant against stealth aircraft and electronic attack platforms.
These sales demonstrate a pattern of capability-focused support rather than offensive force expansion. U.S. officials have repeatedly emphasized that such transfers are intended to preserve deterrence and stability.
The integration of IRST pods across Taiwan’s F-16 fleet reflects a broader shift toward information dominance and survivability in modern air combat.