Overview
- The firm-fixed-price award covers IRST21 Block II pods and initial spares for Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and Air National Guard fighters.
- The move follows a summer full-rate production decision and the Navy’s November 2024 initial operational capability for the AN/ASG-34A(V)1.
- GAO reported flight-test delays tied to software defects that made pods falsely indicate overheating during operational tests.
- DOT&E cited significant reliability shortfalls at roughly 14 hours mean time between operational mission failures against a 40-hour requirement, with current reliability not fully detailed publicly.
- The Navy says the software defects were resolved, while the service’s drop-tank pod configuration contrasts with Air Force Legion Pod installations that have not seen comparable issues publicly reported.