I looked back through my source for the PIRATE IRST, it would also seem that the EF can target with its IRST for air to ground missions, leaving the central pylon free for fuel and the rest for ordinance. Also I believe Brimstone can be radar queued rather than queued by the pod. It also further confirms that the EF can use the DASS system to identify and track targets around it passively.
FLIR PIRATE kann sowohl als IRST (Infrared Search and Track) im Luft-Luft-Betrieb als auch als FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) im Luft-Boden-Betrieb verwendet werden. Es ist in einem kugelförmigen Gehäuse links neben dem Cockpit im Bug der Maschine untergebracht.
FLIR PIRATE can also be used as an IRST (Infrared Search and Track) in air-to-air operations and also as a FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) in air-to-ground operations. It is housed in a circular pod to the left of the cockpit in the nose of the machine [aircraft].
They said that the radar will be “able to locate and deny use of an adversary’s radar with a powerful electronic jamming attack, whilst staying beyond the reach of threats.”
No chance they’d show their cards with something like that at red flag. The UK has its own F-35B fleet which they will be able to test it on though, and the F-35 is going to have more modern avionics and sensors than the F-22.
