Printed from https://fiscalreceipts.com/program/0604014N/ — built September 26, 2026. Every figure is citation-backed; see the page online for per-number provenance.
F/A -18 Infrared Search and Track (IRST)
Watch this program
Budget figures
No FY2026 R-1/P-1 request line for this program element. The FY2026 President's Budget request workbook carries no FY2026 line for it; its last workbook figure is FY2025. The PB2026 J-book detail below does carry an FY2026 row for this line, recorded as zero. A workbook blank and a documented zero are different records, and this page shows both. An absent line is not by itself an ending — PB2026 renumbered program elements at scale across the services and defense agencies, so this work may continue under a different number. No successor is linked for this line: this site's program-lineage layer holds no keyed edge pointing forward from here. That is an absence in this site's lineage layer, not a finding about the program: if the J-book narrative on this page describes a realignment, it is quoted below in the document's own words, and this note does not restate it.
FY2026 award data is a partial year — USAspending reports awards on a rolling basis, and this corpus runs through 2026-09-04. why partial FY2026 data? →
Budget trajectory
| Fiscal year | Amount |
|---|---|
| FY24 | $31.2MR-1 TOA · PB2026 |
| FY25 | $8.63MR-1 TOA · PB2026 |
| FY26 | $0J-book detail · PB2026 |
Decade view
P-1/R-1 workbook TOA basis, shown compact in $B/$M (the workbook records USD thousands); each figure cites its own President's Budget edition
The vertical scale does not start at zero: the baseline sits just below this program’s smallest year, so a low point on this line is not a small amount. Read the shape for direction and the grid below for the figures.
● actuals (line) · ○ enacted · ◇ request — gaps are editions the program is absent from, never interpolated.
| Series | FY17 | FY18 | FY19 | FY20 | FY21 | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actuals | $0 | $68.1M | $104.5M | $111.1M | $81.8M | $47.6M | $54.5M | $31.2M | |
| Enacted | – | $0 | $108.7M | $112.4M | $84.2M | $48.8M | $55.1M | $32.1M | $8.63M |
| Request | – | – | $108.7M | $113.5M | $84.2M | $48.8M | $40.1M | $32.1M | $8.63M |
blank = series not published for this year; – = absent from that edition.
Asked vs spent: the PB2023 book requested $40.1M for FY2023; the PB2025 book reported $54.5M as actual total obligation authority — $14.4M above the request. 54.5 − 40.1 = 14.4 USD millions — the compact figures above are rounded for reading.
Program lineage
Predecessors (funding flowed in)
- realigned from · per FY2026 J-book
show sentence
“IRST was previously funded under Program Element 0204136N F/A-18 Squadrons and has been transferred to Program Element 0604014N F/A-18 Infrared Search and Track.”
0604014N — F/A -18 Infrared Search and Track (IRST)Family Funding Line
Funding chain: 0204136N0604014N — F/A-18 Squadrons
Description
Mission — 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. This budget request also supports development and testing of a redesigned Read-Out Integrated Circuit (ROIC). The ROIC vendor is not able to sustain production of the current design. The redesign will yield a more reliable configuration with potential production cost avoidances due to less usage of higher cost materials. IRST was previously funded under Program Element 0204136N F/A-18 Squadrons and has been transferred to Program Element 0604014N F/A-18 Infrared Search and Track.
Mission — 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.
Justification
Accomplishments & Planned Programs (1)
Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST)
Technology Development (TD) and Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) of a fully integrated airborne IRST sensor for the F/A-18E/F. Block II is an engineering change to the Block I system which redesigns the Infrared Receiver (IRR) and processor to provide full Capabilities Development Document (CDD) capability over a larger field of regard. Block II will provide longer-range passive detection and tracking performance which enhances warfighting capability through improved engagement timelines and increased situational awareness.
Budget line items(workbook-cited)
P-1/R-1 workbook Total Obligation Authority basis (USD thousands) · PB2026.
Exhibit R-1
| Account | Org | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy | N | FY24 Actuals | $31.2M |
| Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy | N | FY25 Enacted | $8.63M |
| Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy | N | FY25 Total | $8.63M |
Budget Details(R-2/P-40 facts)
J-book detail basis (R-2/P-40, USD millions) · PB2026 — a different accounting basis from the P-1/R-1 workbook TOA above; where the two disagree, the reconciliation strip under Budget figures shows both.
Wider than this screen — swipe the table sideways for the remaining fiscal-year columns.
| Project | All Prior Years | FY24 Actuals | FY25 Total | FY26 Base | FY26 Request |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Element | $451.2M | $31.2M | $8.63M | $0 | $0 |
| 2069: F/A-18 Infrared Search and Track (IRST) | $451.2M | $31.2M | $8.63M | $0 | $0 |
Follow the dollar
Appropriation → program element → top high-confidence awards → recipient families → congressional districts.
Follow-the-dollar covers 312 of 1,938 programs — only high-confidence budget→award links are shown. why coverage is partial? →
The diagram illustrates the cited table below — amounts shown in the diagram are transaction sums per award (no citation chips); the per-district obligations in the table cite USAspending queries.
| District | Program obligations |
|---|---|
| MO-01 | $265.8M |
Related awards
Award linkage is shown for 32 of 200 profiled companies — high- and medium-confidence USAspending matches, each row labeled; medium is the weaker evidence. why partial award coverage? →
| Recipient | PIID | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| THE BOEING COMPANY | N0001917C0024 | high |
| THE BOEING COMPANY | N0001918C1022 | high |
Contractor concentration
No concentration index is published for this line. This line's high-confidence links do not clear the floor for a published concentration index — at least 3 awards across 2 contractor families holding positive obligations, with positive net linked dollars. An index below that floor is a fact about the sample, not about the market. Whatever further links this line carries are medium-confidence, and what each medium evidence path does and does not establish is set out in the methodology. Both bases are in the downloadable warehouse.
Lobbying mentions
No Senate LDA lobbying filing in the tracked data mentions this program element by code or alias.
Oversight
GAO oversight of this program
GAO assessed F/A-18E/F Infrared Search and Track (IRST) in its June 2025 Weapon Systems Annual Assessment, as a Navy MDAP program.
“The Navy is integrating new and existing infrared search and track sensors onto the F/A-18 external fuel tank. The sensor is intended to enable F/A- 18s to detect and track objects from a distance and in environments where radar is ineffective. The Navy is acquiring IRST with an evolutionary acquisition approach, including two system configurations (referred to as blocks). Block I integrated an existing IRST system onto the F/A-18 external fuel tank pod. Block II, which we assessed, developed an improved sensor, upgraded processor, and additional software.”
GAO-25-107569, p. 127 — the assessment page in GAO’s 2025 report
Earlier editions of the same assessment: June 2024 · June 2023
GAO assessed F/A-18E/F Infrared Search and Track (IRST) in its June 2024 Weapon Systems Annual Assessment, as a Navy MDAP program.
“The Navy is integrating new and existing infrared search and track sensors onto the F/A-18E/F fuel tank. The sensors are intended to enable F/A-18s to detect and track objects from a distance and in environments where radar is ineffective. The Navy is acquiring IRST with an evolutionary acquisition approach, including two system configurations (referred to as blocks). Block I integrated an existing IRST system onto the F/A-18 external fuel tank pod. Block II, which we assessed, develops an improved sensor, upgraded processor, and additional software.”
GAO-24-106831, p. 135 — the assessment page in GAO’s 2024 report
GAO assessed F/A-18E/F Infrared Search and Track (IRST) in its June 2023 Weapon Systems Annual Assessment, as a Navy MDAP program.
“The Navy is integrating new and existing infrared search and track sensors onto the F/A-18E/F fuel tank. The sensors are intended to enable F/A-18s to detect and track objects from a distance and in environments where radar is ineffective. The Navy is acquiring IRST with an evolutionary acquisition approach, including two system configurations (referred to as blocks). Block I integrates an existing IRST system onto the F/A-18 fuel tank. Block II, which we assessed, develops an improved sensor, upgraded processor, and additional software.”
GAO-23-106059, p. 145 — the assessment page in GAO’s 2023 report
GAO assessed the program, not this budget line. F/A -18 Infrared Search and Track (IRST) is one of the lines that funds it, and GAO’s work above says nothing about this line’s own figures. Which line each GAO item attaches to is a hand-ratified crosswalk — how it was checked.
Department-level designation (not specific to this program)
GAO lists 5 high-risk areas for DOD as a whole. That designation covers the department, not F/A -18 Infrared Search and Track (IRST). GAO's program-level work on this line is above. See the DOD oversight record.
Program dossier
No research dossier for this program — dossiers cover 50 of 1,938 programs, the largest fully J-book-detailed lines by FY2026 requested dollars. why no dossier here? →
Primary sources
Open any budget figure for its exact receipt. Verified line items lead with the highlighted government PDF; original spreadsheets download with their budget edition and exhibit in the filename.
Budget totals · TOA sources
FY2026 Department of Defense Budget: RDT&E Programs (R-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit R-1 · J316
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2026_DoD_R-1_Research-Development-Test-Evaluation.xlsx.
FY2019 Department of Defense Budget: RDT&E Programs (R-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit R-1 · J314
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2019_DoD_R-1_Research-Development-Test-Evaluation.xlsx.
FY2021 Department of Defense Budget: RDT&E Programs (R-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit R-1 · J342
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2021_DoD_R-1_Research-Development-Test-Evaluation.xlsx.
FY2022 Department of Defense Budget: RDT&E Programs (R-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit R-1 · J313
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2022_DoD_R-1_Research-Development-Test-Evaluation.xlsx.
FY2023 Department of Defense Budget: RDT&E Programs (R-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit R-1 · J303
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2023_DoD_R-1_Research-Development-Test-Evaluation.xlsx.
FY2024 Department of Defense Budget: RDT&E Programs (R-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit R-1 · J301
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2024_DoD_R-1_Research-Development-Test-Evaluation.xlsx.
FY2025 Department of Defense Budget: RDT&E Programs (R-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit R-1 · J302
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2025_DoD_R-1_Research-Development-Test-Evaluation.xlsx.
FY2017 Department of Defense Budget: RDT&E Programs (R-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit R-1 · P404
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2017_DoD_R-1_Research-Development-Test-Evaluation.xlsx.
FY2018 Department of Defense Budget: RDT&E Programs (R-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit R-1 · W436
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2018_DoD_R-1_Research-Development-Test-Evaluation.xlsx.
FY2020 Department of Defense Budget: RDT&E Programs (R-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit R-1 · R465
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2020_DoD_R-1_Research-Development-Test-Evaluation.xlsx.
Detailed budget justification
The related TOA spreadsheets above use a different accounting basis from R-2/P-40 detail. Their amounts are not assumed to match these detailed sources.
RDTEN BA1-3 Book · www.secnav.navy.mil