Flash News: Boeing F/A-18E/F Naval Fighter Jet Gains New Long-Range Target Detection with New IRST Block II.

On February 4, 2025, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) announced that the Infrared Search and Track (IRST) Block II system has achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fleet. Officially operational as of November 2024, this advanced sensor system enhances the aircraft’s ability to search, detect, track, and engage airborne threats at long range, providing a critical advantage in modern air combat.
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Using passive infrared technology, the IRST Block II upgrade enhances the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet's ability to detect, track, and engage airborne threats at long range. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, developed and manufactured by the American Company Boeing Defense, Space & Security, is a twin-engine, carrier-capable, multirole fighter aircraft designed for a wide range of missions. It serves as the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s carrier air wings, performing air superiority, strike operations, close air support, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare. McDonnell Douglas originally developed the Super Hornet as an advanced and enlarged version of the F/A-18 Hornet. Following the merger of McDonnell Douglas with Boeing in 1997, production and further development of the aircraft were taken over by Boeing Defense, Space & Security. The Super Hornet entered service with the U.S. Navy in 1999, replacing aging platforms like the F-14 Tomcat and supplementing the original F/A-18A-D Hornet models. Boeing remains the primary contractor and manufacturer of the F/A-18E/F, producing the aircraft at its St. Louis, Missouri facility while also overseeing modernization programs, sustainment, and upgrades.

The Super Hornet features a larger airframe, more advanced avionics, and increased fuel capacity compared to its predecessor. It is powered by two General Electric F414-GE-400 afterburning turbofan engines, each delivering 22,000 pounds of thrust, ensuring superior speed, agility, and combat endurance. The aircraft incorporates stealth-enhancing design features, radar-absorbent materials, and a low radar cross-section (RCS), increasing survivability in contested environments. One of its key advantages is the AN/APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which enables long-range target detection, tracking, and engagement. However, in environments where radar jamming and electronic warfare threats are present, the addition of the IRST Block II system significantly enhances the aircraft’s effectiveness by enabling passive target detection and tracking.

The ASG-34A(V)1 F/A-18E/F IRST is a centerline-mounted pod that houses a long-wave infrared (LWIR) sensor, providing a passive fire control system for searching, detecting, tracking, and engaging airborne targets at extended ranges. Unlike radar, which can be jammed or detected, the IRST Block II system operates passively, meaning it does not emit signals, making it highly effective in electronic warfare-heavy and radar-denied environments. The IRST sensor assembly is integrated onto the front of the redesigned FPU-13/A centerline fuel tank, replacing the standard FPU-12/A 480-gallon fuel tank. Due to this integration, the fuel capacity is reduced to 340 gallons, leading to a decrease in available fuel and reduced mission endurance for the F/A-18E/F. However, the trade-off provides a significant enhancement in combat effectiveness, allowing for early threat detection and long-range engagement.

The IRST Block II system acts as a complementary sensor to the AN/APG-79 fire control radar, providing a dual-layer detection system in environments where enemy electronic warfare systems attempt to jam or disable radar-based tracking. It can operate autonomously or in coordination with other onboard sensors, allowing pilots to detect and track enemy aircraft at long range without radar emissions, maintaining stealth. It enables identification and classification of targets based on infrared signatures, distinguishing between different aircraft types. It also supports beyond-visual-range (BVR) missile engagements by providing targeting data for AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II missiles. This capability is crucial in modern air combat, where fifth-generation stealth aircraft and advanced electronic warfare threats are increasingly prevalent. By integrating IRST Block II, the Super Hornet gains an advantage in both offensive and defensive air combat by allowing pilots to track threats without exposing their own position.

Before reaching IOC, the IRST Block II system underwent rigorous Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) with Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 9. The F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265) collaborated with VX-31 and VX-23, conducting extensive operational and developmental testing to validate the system's performance in real-world combat conditions. The IRST system has been developed in two phases, with Block I introduced in 2011, integrating an early IRST system onto an F/A-18 fuel tank, providing initial passive detection capability. Block II, developed in 2019, introduced an improved infrared sensor, enhanced processing capabilities, and upgraded software, culminating in IOC in 2024 and first operational deployment in 2025.

With IOC declared, the next step is the full-rate production decision scheduled for Spring 2025, which will allow for the widespread integration of IRST Block II across carrier-based F/A-18E/F squadrons. The integration of IRST Block II into the Super Hornet fleet marks a significant advancement in U.S. Navy air combat capability.

As a naval carrier-capable fighter jet, this new version of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet offers the U.S. Navy a critical edge in modern air combat. With the ability to operate from aircraft carriers in high-threat environments, the Super Hornet equipped with IRST Block II enhances long-range air dominance by allowing pilots to engage enemy aircraft with greater precision while remaining undetected. The system significantly improves beyond-visual-range engagement capabilities, ensuring that the Super Hornet remains effective against advanced adversaries equipped with stealth technology and electronic warfare systems. Additionally, the enhanced sensor fusion between IRST and AESA radar provides uninterrupted target tracking, allowing for better coordination with naval assets, carrier strike groups, and allied forces.

By integrating IRST Block II, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strengthens carrier-based air superiority, ensuring that U.S. Naval forces maintain operational effectiveness in contested environments. With adversaries continuing to develop advanced stealth aircraft and electronic warfare capabilities, the Super Hornet’s enhanced sensor suite and expanded combat capabilities reinforce its role as a dominant multirole fighter for years to come.