Lightweight, low-cost, heat-seeking missiles could be used to identify stealth fighters in future air combat with strong accuracy
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenChao Kongin BeijingPublished: 10:00pm, 13 Aug 2026The F-35 and F-22 may be among the world’s most advanced stealth fighters, but they cannot hide one thing: heat.When heat-seeking missiles lock onto aircraft, fighters release flares to confuse infrared sensors and break missile tracking.
But the infrared signals produced by fighters, including heat from engine exhaust and air friction over the fuselage, are different from those generated by flares.
These heat signatures could provide valuable infrared information for target detection and recognition in future air combat, while making flares useless.
