The Right Approach: The End of an Era—DoD Proposes MIL-PRF-31032 Cancellation
Beyond the Board: How a Diminished Supplier Base Affects Complex PCB Manufacturing Readiness in Defense
Defense Speak Interpreted: Hypersonics Report Back After Six Years of Silence
Lockheed Martin Awarded $328.5 Million Contract to Deliver Legion-ES Systems
February 5, 2026 | Lockheed MartinEstimated reading time: 1 minute
The U.S. government awarded Lockheed Martin a $328.5 million Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract for the production of IRST21® Legion-ES® sensor systems. This contract supports the recent U.S. government FMS agreement for the Taiwan Air Force.
THE BIG PICTURE
IRST21 is Lockheed Martin’s next-generation infrared search-and-track sensor capability, a long-wave infrared system that passively detects and tracks airborne targets at extended ranges. The Legion-ES configuration is designed for the F-16 to complement aircraft performance.
WHY IT MATTERS
Taiwan marks the first international ally to receive Lockheed Martin’s Legion-ES IRST21 configuration.
The Legion-ES is an embedded and fully integrated IRST system providing critical technology to detect and track airborne threats with high accuracy, increasing pilot reaction time and enhancing survivability for the U.S. and its allies.
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE
“This award marks an important milestone as Taiwan becomes the first international partner to receive the Legion-ES IRST21 configuration,” said Cristin Stengel, program director, Lockheed Martin IRST21. “This system will bring advanced passive sensing capability to strengthen situational awareness, accelerate decision-making and support our allied air forces.”
ADDITIONAL CONTEXT
The low-profile Legion-ES builds on Lockheed Martin’s legacy IRST systems, which have more than 300,000 flight hours combined.
Share on:
Testimonial
"Your magazines are a great platform for people to exchange knowledge. Thank you for the work that you do."
Simon Khesin - Schmoll MaschinenSuggested Items
Maxar’s Third and Fourth WorldView Legion Satellites Performing Well After Launch
08/16/2024 | BUSINESS WIREMaxar Intelligence, a provider of secure, precise geospatial intelligence, confirmed that its third and fourth WorldView Legion satellites are performing well after being launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket earlier today from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
First Two WorldView Legion Spacecraft Performing Well After Launch
05/03/2024 | BUSINESS WIREMaxar Intelligence, provider of secure, precise geospatial intelligence, today confirmed the first two WorldView Legion satellites are performing well after being launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket earlier today from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
Complexity Gaming Signs Multi-Year Agreement With Lenovo
03/28/2022 | Business WireComplexity Gaming, a GameSquare Esports company and one of North America’s longest-standing esports organizations, announced a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Lenovo, making the company the exclusive desktop and laptop PC provider.
Digitalglobe Selects Raytheon as Satellite Imaging Payload Provider
10/10/2017 | Raytheon CompanyRaytheon Company was recently selected by DigitalGlobe, Inc. as the next-generation WorldView Legion satellite imaging constellation payload provider. Under the contract, Raytheon will deliver the telescopes, detectors and combined electronics to Space Systems Loral, the WorldView Legion space vehicle integrator.
Lockheed Martin's Legion Pod Takes to the Skies
06/30/2015 | Lockheed MartinLockheed Martin's Legion Pod recently completed its first flight test, successfully tracking multiple airborne targets while flying on an F-16 in Fort Worth, Texas.