Infrared sensors link two 1,500-mph F-16 fighter jets for faster battle targeting

Lockheed Martin has tested two F-16s sharing infrared targeting data through a new pod-to-pod link. The flight tests took place in Tucson, Arizona, with support from the Air National Guard and AATC. Both fighters carried Legion sensor systems equipped with a pre-production version of L3Harris’ HiveLink. The setup let the aircraft exchange sensor information during flight. That shared picture improved the accuracy of tracks detected by each aircraft. Legion operates as a passive infrared search-and-track system. It detects and tracks airborne objects without relying on the fighter’s radar. That matters when adversaries disrupt or deny radar operations. Legion can keep collecting information without transmitting the way a conventional radar does. The new connection adds another layer to that capability. Two aircraft can combine their observations instead of treating each sensor picture separately. That can help pilots determine a target’s range more quickly. It also gives crews a clearer understanding of where contacts sit in three-dimensional space. Lockheed Martin describes the effect as providing pilots with rapid “depth perception.” The goal is to help crews identify important contacts sooner. Sharing measurements also addresses a technical problem inherent to passive sensing. Infrared systems can detect targets effectively but may face challenges determining precise range. Networked pods can use observations from separate aircraft to improve that estimate. The result can give pilots a more useful targeting picture without requiring active radar emissions. HiveLink adds resilient networking L3Harris developed HiveLink to provide connectivity across contested operating environments. The system supports line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight communications. It also combines mesh networking with CDL interoperability and flexible waveform support. That architecture gives Legion another path for exchanging sensor information across aircraft. The Tucson tests represent an early demonstration of that approach on F-16s. Lockheed Martin is conducting the work under an Air National Guard contract. Engineers are also evaluating the system’s performance and interoperability during flight. Transportability will matter as the Legion architecture moves toward additional platforms. Legion already serves the U.S. Air Force in a podded configuration. The system operates across F-15 and F-16 fleets. Its modular design leaves room for additional hardware and software. Future development could add software-defined radios and multi-waveform gateways. Legion targets contested airspace The system’s roots stretch back to Lockheed Martin’s earlier IRST work. Those systems have accumulated more than 300,000 flight hours on F-14 and F-15 aircraft. Legion carries that experience into a newer open-architecture design. Engineers can connect the sensor with other systems and distribute threat information across a wider force. Manned-unmanned teaming also sits on the development roadmap. That could eventually allow Legion-equipped fighters to exchange information with unmanned aircraft. The immediate focus remains practical. The current flight testing seeks to show how networked infrared sensing can shorten engagement timelines. Reducing the information burden on pilots could also free aircraft bandwidth for otlher mission tasks. That becomes increasingly important when fighters operate inside heavily contested electromagnetic environments. The tests therefore center on more than connecting two pods. They examine how separate infrared sensors can work together as a distributed targeting system. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Aamir is a seasoned tech journalist with experience at Exhibit Magazine, Republic World, and PR Newswire. With a deep love for all things tech and science, he has spent years decoding the latest innovations and exploring how they shape industries, lifestyles, and the future of humanity.