Pentagon awards Lockheed $328.5 million Taiwan IRST pod contract as China drills keep island on alert
WASHINGTON, January 2, 2026, 13:48 ET The Pentagon awarded Lockheed Martin a ceiling $328.5 million undefinitized letter contract — a preliminary deal that lets work begin before final terms are set — for fixed-wing sensor hardware for Taiwan, a U.S. government contracts notice said. The award covers 55 Infrared Search and Track (IRST) Legion Enhanced Sensor pods, which can detect aircraft by heat, plus related equipment under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, the U.S. government’s channel for selling weapons to partners. The notice said $157.3 million in FMS funds were obligated at award, work will be performed in Orlando,