F18E/F (only? - don know for C/D) - has also TA radar mode in its APG , so they’re certified by “default” … but yes that’s without pod , their original pod (ATFLR) was only for targeting.
-but , what’s interesting , even in the first blocks of F18E/F , they were still able carrying both LANTIRN pods , and the FLIR pod was indeed used at least for HUD … even their onboard APG is able to do the job without pod’s radar
…so with time when ATFLIR was introduced they just switched to it (overnight 🙂 ) … what’s bugging me , Did they retained FLIR on HUD capability ? - since the FLIR pod was gone … for good , Can ATFLIR be mirrored on HUD ?? … yes that’s the question for some squid…
I wonder for new F-15’s(S) … they get new AESA’s too so they’ll probably “ditch” the radar pods… c’mon… pods are from the 80’s 😉