Raytheon has been awarded $65.6 million for repairs on the Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared systems used on the F/A-18 fighter aircraft.

Work on the contract, announced Tuesday by the Department of Defense, is expected run through December 2020, and will mostly be preformed in Texas and Florida.

The AFLIR is an infrared sensor pod designed to detect enemy aircraft, vessels and other targets emitting a heat signature from engines. Raytheon claims that AFLIR can spot targets over 45 miles away and at altitudes exceeding 50,000 feet.

The system is pod-based and meant for "plug-and-play" installation on a variety of platforms. It can be networked with other sensor systems and can transmit data to other aircraft and ships, according to Raytheon.

Infrared sensors have the advantage of being passive in nature, meaning that there is no signal like active radar which can alert a potential enemy.

The F/A-18 series of multirole fighters is capable of operating from airfields and aircraft carriers. It is designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground mission, and can carry a variety of weapons ranging from air-to-air missiles to precision-guided bombs and long-range standoff munitions.

Related Links
Aerospace News at SpaceMart.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Navy to activate first CMV-22B tilt-rotor aircraft squadron
Washington (UPI) Dec 17, 2018
The Navy on Monday announced it held a ceremony to establish of its first squadron of CMV-22B tilt-rotor cargo aircraft, starting the transition from the C-2A Greyhound. The squadron, VRM 30, was officially established at a Dec. 14 ceremony at Naval Base Coronado. It is part of the Navy's transition away from the venerable C-2A Greyhound naval transportation planes designed for resupply of aircraft carriers. The Navy says that new aircraft will have greater cargo capacity, faster speed a ... read more