Support Equipment

EO/IR Pod

Also known as

Nose-mounted EO/IR pod
EO/IR sensor pod
EO/IR with laser designator
EO/IR with laser pointer

EO/IR Pod is a relationship-only electro-optical/infrared sensor pod entry for documented carrier fits on Aero Vodochody's L-39 Skyfox and the U.S. Coast Guard HC-130J Super Hercules. Aero's brochure places it in a border-patrolling configuration with two 350-liter external fuel tanks and one EO/IR pod, while the Coast Guard factsheet names a nose-mounted EO/IR pod in the HC-130J mission system suite.

EO/IR Pod, Electro-optical/infrared sensor pod, Support Equipment

Image source: L-39 Skyfox detail image | Aero

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin: Czech Republic
Built by: Aero Vodochody AEROSPACE
Type: Electro-optical/infrared sensor pod
Service note: 2018-present documented EO/IR mission fits

electro-optical infrared sensor surveillance

Specifications

Sensor class: EO/IR
Carrier configuration: 2 x 350 l external fuel tanks plus 1 EO/IR pod
HC-130J fit: Nose-mounted EO/IR pod in the mission system suite
Mission context: Border patrolling, maritime surveillance, anti-piracy, and anti-smuggling
Aircraft family: L-39 Skyfox

Carrier Aircraft

Documented carrier examples include Aero's L-39 Skyfox fit and the Coast Guard HC-130J's nose-mounted mission-system installation.

Carrier

Carrier type

Carriage evidence

Aero L-39NG, Two-seat subsonic jet trainer and light-attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs

Trainer/light-attack aircraft

The 2025 L-39 Skyfox brochure shows a border-patrolling configuration with 2 EFT 350 l and 1 EO/IR pod, and elsewhere names EO/IR with laser designator among mission payload examples for ISR work.

Sources: L-39 SKYFOX brochure | Aero

HC-130J Coast Guard, Long-range surveillance, search and rescue, and maritime patrol aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs

HC-130J Coast Guard

Long-range surveillance aircraft

The Coast Guard's HC-130J factsheet says the mission system suite includes a nose-mounted EO/IR pod.

Sources: HC-130J Super Hercules | USCG

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: Documented by Aero in the 2025 L-39 Skyfox brochure for border-patrolling and ISR mission fit.

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Sources

L-39 SKYFOX | AeroPublisher: Aero Vodochody | Note: Supports the L-39 Skyfox program description, manufacturer background, and aircraft specifications used for the carrier context. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 L-39 SKYFOX brochure | AeroPublisher: Aero Vodochody | Note: Supports the border-patrolling configuration with 2 EFT 350 l and 1 EO/IR pod, plus Aero's EO/IR with laser designator mission-payload example. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 HC-130J Super Hercules | USCGPublisher: U.S. Coast Guard | Note: Supports the HC-130J mission system suite description, including the nose-mounted EO/IR pod, and the aircraft specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 L-39 Skyfox detail image | AeroPublisher: Aero Vodochody | Note: Supports the Skyfox image used as the primary image on the EO/IR pod page. | Accessed: 2026-06-27