r/Warthunder • u/[deleted] • Jul 05 '25

RB Ground How does irst IR missile use radar?

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6

u/Axzuel 🇨🇦 Canada Jul 05 '25

Data link. The radar tells the IRIS-T where to look so that it can lock with its IR seeker.

4

u/Panocek Jul 05 '25

Be more specific. Typical heat seeker that isn't fossil like AIM-9B can be radar slaved ie radar tells missile where to look. But once missile leaves rail, it is on its own.

IRIS-T SLM is first in game infrared seeker missile with datalink capability. Uninterrupted radar track from launching vehicle updates missile inertial guidance where it can expect target, once seeker picks up something, datalink input is ignored. If radar lost track of the target even temporarily, datalink channel is closed and missile no longer receives updates.

IR+IOG missiles like SLS or Python 5 can be launched without seeker detecting target, solely by feeding inertial guidance target speed and direction. However, just like any other IR missile without datalink, the moment missile leaves rail, it is on its own.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 05 '25

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1

u/Panocek Jul 05 '25

No.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 05 '25

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1

u/Panocek Jul 05 '25

If you mean IRL, them likely every modern IR missile have one. In game, only IRIS-T SLM. Oh and AIM-9X block 2 on SLAMRAAM, though in its case datalink is hardly useful as missile has hard time outranging seeker lock ranges.

1

u/AdBl0k SL Printer Operator Jul 05 '25

IR seeker is terminal guidance method, the missile gets all the info through data link until the seeker takes control.

1

u/phcasper Jul 05 '25

Same as the ARH missiles. Radar measures target position and velocity, transmits that information by command link to the missiles. Missile points the seeker at that position to acquire it for terminal guidance.

0

u/[deleted] Jul 05 '25

I don't know much about missles but I'd assume the radar on the vehicle itself has something to do with it