F-15C shot down QF-16 with IRST-cued AIM-120

For the first time, an F-15C has shot down a QF-16 aerial target using an AIM-120 air-to-air missile that was cued by the Legion Pod Infrared Search-and-Track system.

An F-15C Eagle from the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, showcasing Lockheed Martin’s Legion Pod IRST Block 1.5 system. The legion pod equips the aircraft with the ability to collaborate with the AIM-120 missile to successfully intercept a target and close kill chains. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt Lindsey Heflin)

The event took place on Aug. 5 and the test was carried out by the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron.

An APG-63v3 radar was used in combination with IRST passive target tracking to datalink the location of the target to the AIM-120.

Maj. Brian Davis, 85th TES Chief of Air-to-Air Weapons and Tactics, says the F-15 can now detect, track, target, employ weapons, and verify an intercept without the help of radar.

Previously, the service had used the Legion Pod to cue an AIM-9X missile.

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