Lockheed Martin Legion-ES IRST Contract for Taiwan

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $328.5 million contract for the production of Legion-ES (Enhanced Sensor) systems for Taiwan. The deal, which includes 55 pods and associated hardware, will provide the Taiwan Air Force with a passive infrared search and track (IRST) capability to detect and track airborne targets at long ranges, even in radar-denied environments.

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on February 2, 2026.

BLUF: 

• Lockheed Martin has secured a $328.5 million (£260.59 million/€313.35 million) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract to provide 55 Legion-ES IRST sensor pods to Taiwan. 
• The systems, designed for the F-16 platform, are expected to be delivered by June 2031.

The US Department of Defence has confirmed the award of an FMS contract to Lockheed Martin for the delivery of Legion-ES systems to Taiwan. The agreement, announced on February 2, 2026, is intended to address an “urgent operational need” for the Taiwan Air Force.

The contract includes the production of 55 Legion-ES Infrared Search and Track (IRST) sensor pods, along with necessary processors and transport containers. This procurement makes Taiwan the first international customer to adopt the Legion-ES configuration of the IRST21 sensor system, according to Lockheed.

• Taiwan deepens defence ties with US companies 
• Anduril expands and deepens Indo-Pacific footprint – Calibre Defence 

The contract was finalised as a sole-source acquisition through the Air Force Life Cycle Management Centre at Warner Robins, Georgia. At the time of the announcement, $157.3 million (£124.78 million/€150.04 million) in FMS funds were obligated.

Work will be conducted at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Orlando, Florida, with a projected completion date of 30th June 2031. The deal follows ongoing US-Taiwanese defence cooperation focused on upgrading the survivability and precision-strike capabilities of Taiwan’s fixed-wing aircraft.

Tech profile: Legion-ES

The Legion-ES is an integrated version of Lockheed Martin’s IRST21 technology. Unlike active radar systems that emit signals and can reveal an aircraft’s position, the Legion-ES is a passive, long-wave infrared system. It identifies and tracks targets by their heat signatures at significant distances, allowing pilots to maintain situational awareness in environments where radar is jammed or deemed too risky to use.

The system is tailored for the F-16 platform and is designed to integrate without significant alterations to the airframe or its operational flight software. The hardware is built into a low-profile pod based on Lockheed Martin’s legacy IRST systems, which have accumulated over 300,000 flight hours across platforms such as the F-14 and international F-15 variants. 

It is worth noting that the Legion-ES could have applications to missile defence as well as for tacking and intercepting enemy fighter aircraft. Some Russian missiles incorporate effective jamming technology that can prevent a fighter jet’s radar from locking onto the missile whilst in flight. It is reasonable to assume that China has, or will, develop and deploy similar technology on its own weapons. 

Calibre comment: The role of airpower in a China-Taiwan war

China would be required to secure air superiority for any operation against Taiwan. This would likely involve something that PLA theorists have called the Air Offense Campaign, which is designed to achieve “Command of the Air” (zhikongquan) through a mix of ballistic missile strikes and air-to-ground strikes against key infrastructure. It would be combined with an operation to destroy Taiwan’s airpower in the air as well as on the ground. With much of the island within reach of China’s Rocket Forces and Air Force, Taiwan has to take steps to ensure that its available aircraft are as survivable as possible. Systems like the Legion-ES and upgrades to the F-16V will contribute to that overall picture.

The lead image shows an F-16V. Credit: Lockheed Martin.