F-16V Block 70 is the only new fighter jet that lacks IRST.

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

F-16E Block 60 had IRST. UAE paid 3 billion USD to develop that which nobody else wanted and they were going to close F-16 line for good. F-16V Block 70 had IRST deleted so Americans don't pay royalty to UAE. All the new fighter jets Su-35, Su-57, MiG-35, Gripen E, JF-17 Block 3, J-10B, Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, F-35, J-20 have IRST. It's a shame what Americans did to UAE cheating them off like that.

F-16E Block 60

F-16V Block 70

 

[Papa Dragon]

I hope my fellow Indians understand why we shouldn't go American for any major weapons systems, particularly our front line fighters

 

[500]

It has AESA radar. It does not need silly IRST.

 

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

It has AESA radar. It does not need silly IRST.

IRST is useful for thermal imaging. All the new fighters use IRST for thermal imaging. Also, you can turn radar off and use IRST for passive sensing. More stealthy and less chance of being found out.

B-52 shown on Su-35's IRST

 

[LeGenD]

@undertakerwwefan

Legion Pod (IRST) is optional for use in all variants of F-16.

F-16 Block 70 is better than any other variant by the way.

 

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

@undertakerwwefan

Legion Pod (IRST) is optional for use in all variants of F-16.

F-16 Block 70 is better than any other variant by the way.

Yeah but an IRST pod takes up a hard point and increases drag that's why all the new fighter jets have internally mounted IRST.