# F/A-18 Infrared Search and Track (IRST) — Program Element 0604014N

**Program element:** 0604014N  
**Component:** U.S. Navy  
**Appropriation:** 1319 — RDT&E, Navy  
**Budget Activity:** 4 — Advanced Component Development & Prototypes  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604014N

## Summary

U.S. Navy requests $0.0M in FY2027.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 8.6 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 0.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 0.0 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 0.0 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Projects (1)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2069 | F/A-18 Infrared Search and Track (IRST) | 8.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project 2069 — F/A-18 Infrared Search and Track (IRST)

The AN/ASG-34A(V)1 F/A-18E/F Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system is a long-wave infrared sensor that provides a passive, out-of-band, alternate fire control system capable of detecting, tracking and engaging airborne targets, at long range, in a heavy electronic attack or radar-denied environment. IRST Block II is the primary out-of-band fire-control system for the F/A-18E/F, critical to organic passive air-to-air kill-chains required to compete with peer adversaries. Enables F/A-18E/F lethality by providing a passive means to detect, track, and target aircraft in highly contested environments in support of the objectives outlined in the National Defense Strategy. IRST enhances survivability by providing a fire-control solution without the need to radiate in the RF spectrum. The IRST system can autonomously, or in combination with other sensors, support the guidance of beyond-visual-range missiles including AIM-120C/D and AIM-9X Block II. The F/A-18E/F IRST system is an evolutionary Navy acquisition program with Block I and Block II capabilities. The USN is committed to further development of this component of the passive kill chain. This budget request supports Block II development and testing of a redesigned Infrared Receiver (IRR) and processor, enabling full Capabilities Development Document (CDD) capability over a larger field of regard.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST) | 8.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

The AN/ASG-34A(V)1 F/A-18E/F Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system is a long-wave infrared sensor that provides a passive, out-of-band, alternate fire control system capable of detecting, tracking and engaging airborne targets, at long range, in a heavy electronic attack or radar-denied environment. IRST Block II is the primary out-of-band fire-control system for the F/A-18E/F, critical to organic passive air-to-air kill-chains required to compete with peer adversaries. Enables F/A-18E/F lethality by providing a passive means to detect, track, and target aircraft in highly contested environments in support of the objectives outlined in the National Defense Strategy.

F/A-18E/F Block II IRST is an ECP to the Block I system employing an incremental approach to development and integration. The F/A-18E/F IRST Block II Pre-Development IPR-1 was conducted in October 2017 and the Block II ECP achieved Milestone C on 4 December 2018. Based on lead times required for some hardware components and urgency of need, development is being executed incrementally with some concurrency with production activities. The concurrency risk was accepted based on proven technology elements, high confidence in design stability, and a planned demonstration of readiness for production at rate. The incremental approach to development presently underway has been impacted by first article HW delays.

## Related program elements

- [0604269N — EA-18 Squadrons](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604269N) (Navy)
- [0604501N — Advanced Above Water Sensors](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604501N) (Navy)
- [0302015F — E-4B Aircraft Modernization](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0302015F) (Air Force)
- [1206771SF — Commercial Services](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206771SF) (Space Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Navy RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0604014N (PB PB2027).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0604014N")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*