Taiwan Air Force Boosts Passive Sensing Capabilities Amid Regional Tensions
The US Department of Defense has approved the sale of 55 Legion infrared search and track (IRST) pods to Taiwan, which will be used to enhance the Taiwan Air Force’s F-16 fleet. The pods, built around Lockheed Martin’s IRST21, will provide passive sensing capabilities, allowing fighters to detect airborne targets without emitting radar energy. This is part of a broader effort to modernize Taiwan’s F-16 fleet, which has included upgrades to the F-16V standard and the introduction of new avionics and electronic warfare improvements. The sale was reported by AeroTime.