“This proves the capabilities of the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Air Force to lethally target an aircraft outside of the traditional RADAR electromagnetic spectrum.”-Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Lindaman, 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron

On 05AUG2021, for the first time an F-15C Eagle successfully launched a live Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM, aka AIM-120) using the new Legion Pod IRST (Infra-Red Search and Track) Block 1.5 system.

The target was a QF-16, shot down over the Gulf of Mexico.  The F-15C was flown by the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron out of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

Legion Pod IRST Block 1.5 is a new ‘passive’ targeting system, and while it was connected to the Eagle’s RADAR (RAdio Detection And Ranging) during the test, it was able to track and target the QF-16 on its own: “This successful live missile test is significant because an F-15 equipped with an IRST-cued AIM-120 allows us to achieve detection, tracking, targeting, weapons employment, and verification of an intercept without being dependent upon RADAR energy. It’s also not susceptible to radio frequency jamming or a target’s low observable design.”-Maj. Brian Davis, 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron

Legion Pod Block 1.5 IRST has also been used to launch the AIM-9X Sidewinder, on 08JUL2020.

Also on 13JUL2020, the Legion Pod Block 1.5 IRST was flown on an F-16D Block 50A.

Apparently the Legion Pod was originally intended to upgrade the F-16 (being referred to as the F-16 Legion Pod), yet it was discovered that by using the F-15C for testing the USAF saved $1-million and almost four years of time (four years for the F-16, only six months needed using the F-15C), over using the F-16 for testing the pod.  Apparently because the F-15C’s software allowed for better/faster integration of the Legion Pod.

Vehicle I-D: F-15EX HAS ARRIVED! COMMANDER SAYS “IT’S AN EX-CITING DAY!”

RE-BUILD A 1:1 SCALE F-15 CANOPY