The United States has awarded Lockheed Martin a $328.5-million Foreign Military Sales contract to supply Taiwan’s Air Force with advanced IRST21 Legion-ES infrared search-and-track sensor systems. The long-wave infrared sensors are designed to passively detect and track airborne threats at extended ranges without emitting radar signals, improving survivability and early threat warning for pilots. The systems will be integrated onto Taiwan’s F-16 fighter fleet and represent the first time the Legion-ES configuration is being delivered to an international partner. Contract work will be carried out in Orlando, Florida, through mid-2031, with more than $157 million already obligated. The sensors build on IRST technology with over 300,000 flight hours and are expected to enhance Taiwan’s air combat effectiveness amid increasingly complex regional security conditions.
