Editing Infrared search and track (section)

=== Early systems ===

[[File:F-8E VMFAW-235 DaNang Apr1966.jpg|thumb|An [[F-8 Crusader|F-8E Crusader]] of [[VMFA-235|VMF(AW)-235]] at [[Da Nang Air Base|Da Nang]], in April 1966 showing the IRST in front of the canopy.]]
The first uses of an IRST system appeared in the [[F-101 Voodoo]], [[F-102 Delta Dagger]] and [[F-106 Delta Dart]] [[interceptors]]. The F-106 had an early IRST mounting replaced in 1963 with a production retractable mount.<ref name="Kinzeyp12">Kinzey 1983, p. 12.</ref> The IRST was also incorporated into the [[F-8 Crusader]] (F-8E variant) allowing passive tracking of heat emissions and was similar to the later [[Texas Instruments]] '''AN/AAA-4''' installed on early [[F-4 Phantoms]].<ref name="Sweetmanp552">Sweetman 1987, p. 552.</ref>

[[File:The Phantom menace. March CA (8203458393).jpg|thumb|AN/AAA-4 IRST under nose of F-4 Phantom]]
The F-4 Phantom had a Texas Instruments AAA-4 infrared seeker<ref name="Sweetmanp526">Sweetman 1987, p. 526.</ref> under the nose of early production aircraft F-4Bs and F-4Cs. It was not not installed on later F-4Ds due to limited capabilities,<ref name="Sweetmanp532">Sweetman 1987, p. 532.</ref> but retained the bulge and indeed some F-4Ds had the IRST receiver retrofitted in a modified form.<ref name="Sweetmanp552"/>

The F-4E eliminated the AAA-4 IRST bulge and received an internal gun mount which took up the area under the nose.<ref name="Sweetmanp537">Sweetman 1987, p. 537.</ref> The F-4J which had a [[pulse-Doppler radar]] also eliminated the AAA-4 IRST receiver and bulge under the nose.<ref name="Edenp279">Eden 2004, p. 279.</ref>

The first use of IRST in a Eurasian country was the [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23]],<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.defencetalk.com/mig-23-flogger-16805/ |title=MiG-23 Flogger |website= DefenceTalk |date= April 12, 2009 |access-date= August 27, 2024}}</ref> which used the (TP-23ML) IRST; later versions used the (26SH1) IRST.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/airdef/mig-23.htm |title = MiG-23 FLOGGER (MIKOYAN-GUREVICH) - Russia / Soviet Nuclear Forces}}</ref> The [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25]]PD was also equipped with a small IRST under the nose.<ref>Peter G. Dancey(2015)Soviet Aircraft Industry,Fonthill Media</ref>

The Swedish [[Saab 35 Draken#Variants|Saab J-35F2 Draken]] (1965) also used an IRST, a [[Hughes Aircraft Company]] N71.