heatseekers

Heatseekers is a term commonly used in military contexts to describe a type of missile that homes in on the heat emitted by a target. This heat signature is typically generated by the target's engine exhaust or its general body temperature. The missile's seeker head contains an infrared sensor that detects and tracks this heat source. Once locked onto the target, the missile's guidance system directs it towards the heat signature for detonation.

These missiles are highly effective against aircraft, particularly jet engines, which produce a significant amount of infrared radiation. They are also used against ground vehicles and other heat-emitting targets. Heatseekers offer a significant advantage in combat by allowing weapons to engage targets without direct visual confirmation or the need for a pilot to maintain a lock.

However, heatseekers are not without their countermeasures. Aircraft and vehicles can employ flares or other infrared decoys to confuse the missile's seeker head, drawing it away from the actual target. Stealth technology, which reduces a target's heat signature, can also degrade the effectiveness of heat-seeking missiles. Despite these limitations, heatseekers remain a crucial component of modern air-to-air and surface-to-air missile systems.