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An infrared search and track (IRST) system (sometimes known as infrared sighting and tracking) is a method for detecting and tracking objects which give off
infrared Infrared (IR), sometimes called infrared light, is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than those of Light, visible light. It is therefore invisible to the human eye. IR is generally understood to encompass wavelengths from ...
radiation In physics, radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles through space or through a material medium. This includes: * ''electromagnetic radiation'', such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visi ...
, such as the
infrared signature Infrared signature, as used by defense scientists and the military, is the appearance of objects to infrared sensors. An infrared signature depends on many factors, including the shape and size of the object, temperature, and emissivity, reflect ...
s of
jet aircraft A jet aircraft (or simply jet) is an aircraft (nearly always a fixed-wing aircraft) propelled by jet engines. Whereas the engines in propeller-powered aircraft generally achieve their maximum efficiency at much lower speeds and altitudes, jet ...
and
helicopter A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forward, backward and laterally. These attribu ...
s. IRST is a generalized case of
forward looking infrared Forward-looking infrared (FLIR) cameras, typically used on military and civilian aircraft, use a thermographic camera that senses infrared radiation. The sensors installed in forward-looking infrared cameras, as well as those of other therma ...
(FLIR), i.e. from forward-looking to all-round situation awareness. Such systems are passive ( thermographic camera), meaning they do not give out any radiation of their own, unlike
radar Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance (''ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, Marine radar, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor v ...
. This gives them the advantage that they are difficult to detect. However, because the atmosphere attenuates infrared to some extent (although not as much as
visible light Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation that can be perceived by the human eye. Visible light is usually defined as having wavelengths in the range of 400–700 nanometres (nm), corresponding to frequencies of 750–420 t ...
) and because adverse weather can attenuate it also (again, not as badly as visible systems), the range compared to a radar is limited. Within range,
angular resolution Angular resolution describes the ability of any image-forming device such as an optical or radio telescope, a microscope, a camera, or an eye, to distinguish small details of an object, thereby making it a major determinant of image resolut ...
is better than radar due to the shorter
wavelength In physics, the wavelength is the spatial period of a periodic wave—the distance over which the wave's shape repeats. It is the distance between consecutive corresponding points of the same phase on the wave, such as two adjacent crests, tr ...
.


History


Early systems

The first use of an IRST system appears to be the F-101 Voodoo,
F-102 Delta Dagger The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was an American interceptor aircraft designed and manufactured by Convair. Built as part of the backbone of the United States Air Force's air defenses in the late 1950s, it entered service in 1956. Its main purpo ...
and
F-106 Delta Dart The Convair F-106 Delta Dart was the primary all-weather interceptor aircraft of the United States Air Force from the 1960s through to the 1980s. Designed as the so-called "Ultimate Interceptor", it proved to be the last specialist interceptor ...
interceptors An interceptor aircraft, or simply interceptor, is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically for the defensive interception role against an attacking enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Aircraft that are ca ...
. The F-106 had an early IRST mounting replaced in 1963 with a production retractable mount.Kinzey 1983, p. 12. The IRST was also incorporated into the
Vought F-8 Crusader The Vought F-8 Crusader (originally F8U) is a single-engine, supersonic, carrier-based air superiority jet aircraft built by Vought for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps (replacing the Vought F7U Cutlass), and for the Fren ...
(F-8E variant) which allowed passive tracking of heat emissions and was similar to the later
Texas Instruments Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) is an American technology company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, that designs and manufactures semiconductors and various integrated circuits, which it sells to electronics designers and manufacturers globa ...
AAA-4 installed on early F-4 Phantoms.Sweetman 1987, p. 552. The F-4 Phantom had a Texas Instruments AAA-4 infrared seekerSweetman 1987, p. 526. under the nose of early production aircraft F-4B's and F-4C's and not installed on later F-4-D's due to limited capabilities,Sweetman 1987, p. 532. but retained the bulge and indeed some F-4D's had the IRST receiver retrofitted in a modified form. The F-4E eliminated the AAA-4 IRST bulge and received an internal gun mount which took up the area under the nose.Sweetman 1987, p. 537. The F-4J which had a
pulse-Doppler radar A pulse-Doppler radar is a radar system that determines the range to a target using pulse-timing techniques, and uses the Doppler effect of the returned signal to determine the target object's velocity. It combines the features of pulse radars and ...
also eliminated the AAA-4 IRST receiver and bulge under the nose.Eden 2004, p. 279. The first use of IRST in an Eastern European country was the
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 (russian: Микоян и Гуревич МиГ-23; NATO reporting name: Flogger) is a variable-geometry fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union. It is a third-generati ...
The MiG-23 used the (TP-23ML) IRST and later versions used the (26SH1) IRST. The
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 (russian: Микоян и Гуревич МиГ-25; NATO reporting name: Foxbat) is a supersonic interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft that is among the fastest military aircraft to enter service. Designed by th ...
PD was also equipped with a small IRST under the nose. The Swedish Saab J-35F2 Draken (1965) also used an IRST, a
Hughes Aircraft Company The Hughes Aircraft Company was a major American aerospace and defense contractor founded on February 14, 1934 by Howard Hughes in Glendale, California, as a division of Hughes Tool Company. The company was known for producing, among other ...
N71.


Later systems

IRST systems re-appeared on more modern designs starting in the 1980s with the introduction of 2-D sensors, which cued both horizontal and vertical angle. Sensitivities were also greatly improved, leading to better resolution and range. In more recent years, new systems have entered the market. In 2015, Northrop Grumman introduced its OpenPod(TM) IRST pod, which uses a sensor by
Leonardo Leonardo is a masculine given name, the Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese equivalent of the English, German, and Dutch name, Leonard. People Notable people with the name include: * Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), Italian Renaissance scientist ...
. While IRST systems are most common amongst aircraft, land-based, ship and submarine systems are available.


Distributed Aperture Systems

The
F-35 The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole combat aircraft that is intended to perform both air superiority and strike missions. It is also able to provide elect ...
equipped infrared search and track system
AN/AAQ-37 The AN/AAQ-37 Electro-optical Distributed Aperture System (DAS) is the first of a new generation of sensor systems being fielded on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American family of sing ...
Distributed Aperture System (DAS), which composes of six IR sensors around the aircraft for full spherical coverage, providing day/night imaging and acting as an IRST and missile approach warning system.
Chengdu J-20 The Chengdu J-20 (), also known as ''Mighty Dragon'' (), is a twinjet all-weather stealth fighter aircraft developed by China's Chengdu Aerospace Corporation for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). The J-20 is designed as an air ...
and Shenyang FC-31 shares the similar design concept with their EORD-31 system that provides 360 degree IRST coverage. IRST systems can also be used to detect stealth aircraft, in some cases, outperforming traditional radar.


Technology

These were fairly simple systems consisting of an infra-red sensor with a horizontally rotating shutter in front of it. The shutter was slaved to a display under the main interception radar display in the cockpit. Any IR light falling on the sensor would generate a "pip" on the display, in a fashion similar to the B-scopes used on early radars. The display was primarily intended to allow the radar operator to manually turn the radar to the approximate angle of the target, in an era when radar systems had to be "locked on" by hand. The system was considered to be of limited utility, and with the introduction of more automated radars they disappeared from fighter designs for some time.


Performance

Detection range varies with external factors such as * clouds * altitude * air temperature * target's attitude * target's speed The higher the altitude, the less dense the atmosphere and the less infrared radiation it absorbs - especially at longer wavelengths. The effect of reduction in friction between air and aircraft does not compensate the better transmission of infrared radiation. Therefore, infrared detection ranges are longer at high altitudes. At high altitudes, temperatures range from −30 to −50 °C - which provide better contrast between aircraft temperature and background temperature. The Eurofighter Typhoon's PIRATE IRST can detect subsonic fighters from 50 km from front and 90 km from rear - the larger value being the consequence of directly observing the engine exhaust, with an even greater increase being possible if the target uses
afterburners An afterburner (or reheat in British English) is an additional combustion component used on some jet engines, mostly those on military supersonic aircraft. Its purpose is to increase thrust, usually for supersonic flight, takeoff, and combat ...
. The range at which a target can be sufficiently confidently identified to decide on weapon release is significantly inferior to the detection range - manufacturers have claimed it is about 65% of detection range.


Tactics

With
infrared homing Infrared homing is a passive weapon guidance system which uses the infrared (IR) light emission from a target to track and follow it seamlessly. Missiles which use infrared seeking are often referred to as "heat-seekers" since infrared is rad ...
or
fire-and-forget Fire-and-forget is a type of missile guidance which does not require further external intervention after launch such as illumination of the target or wire guidance, and can hit its target without the launcher being in line-of-sight of the targe ...
missiles, the fighter may be able to fire upon the target without having to turn its radar sets on at all. Otherwise, the fighter can turn the radar on and achieve a lock immediately before firing if desired. The fighter could also close to within
cannon A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...
range and engage that way. Whether or not they use their radar, the IRST system can still allow them to launch a surprise attack. An IRST system may also have a regular magnified optical sight slaved to it, to help the IRST-equipped aircraft identify the target at long range. As opposed to an ordinary
forward looking infrared Forward-looking infrared (FLIR) cameras, typically used on military and civilian aircraft, use a thermographic camera that senses infrared radiation. The sensors installed in forward-looking infrared cameras, as well as those of other therma ...
system, an IRST system will actually scan the space around the aircraft similarly to the way in which mechanically (or even electronically) steered radars work. The exception to the scanning technique is the F-35's DAS, which stares in all directions simultaneously, and automatically detects and declares aircraft and missiles in all directions, without a limit to the number of targets simultaneously tracked. When they find one or more potential targets they will alert the pilot(s) and display the location of each target relative to the aircraft on a screen, much like a radar. Again similarly to the way a radar works, the operator can tell the IRST to track a particular target of interest, once it has been identified, or scan in a particular direction if a target is believed to be there (for example, because of an advisory from AWACS or another aircraft). IRST systems can incorporate
laser rangefinder A laser rangefinder, also known as a laser telemeter, is a rangefinder that uses a laser beam to determine the distance to an object. The most common form of laser rangefinder operates on the time of flight principle by sending a laser pulse in ...
s in order to provide full
fire-control A fire-control system (FCS) is a number of components working together, usually a gun data computer, a Director (military), director, and radar, which is designed to assist a ranged weapon system to target, track, and hit a target. It performs ...
solutions for cannon fire or launching missiles (
Optronique secteur frontal The ''Optronique secteur frontal'' (OSF) is a long range optoelectronics system developed for the French Dassault Rafale combat aircraft. With its narrow field, the visible waveband capability is truly valuable to identify targets in situations ...
). The combination of an atmospheric propagation model, the apparent surface of the target, and target motion analysis (TMA) IRST can calculate the range. The United States Air Force is currently seeking an IRST system for its F-15 aircraft.


List of modern IRST systems

The best known modern IRST systems are: * ** Chengdu J-10B/C ** Shenyang J-11/15/16 **
Chengdu J-20 The Chengdu J-20 (), also known as ''Mighty Dragon'' (), is a twinjet all-weather stealth fighter aircraft developed by China's Chengdu Aerospace Corporation for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). The J-20 is designed as an air ...
(EORD-31 with 360 degree IRST coverage named Distributed aperture system) * ** Classe Orizzonte frigate (
Safran Safran S.A. is a French multinational company that designs, develops and manufactures aircraft engines, rocket engines as well as various aerospace and defense-related equipment or their components. It was formed by a merger between SNECMA a ...
Vampir MB) **
ROKS Dokdo ROKS ''Dokdo'' (LPH-6111) is the lead ship of the of the Republic of Korea Navy, launched on 12 July 2005 at the shipyard of Hanjin Heavy Industries & Constructions Co. in Busan. ROKS ''Dokdo'' was the flagship of the Fifth Component Flotilla o ...
amphibious assault ship (Safran Vampir MB) **
Sejong the Great-class destroyer The ''Sejong the Great''-class destroyers (Sejongdaewang-Geup Guchukam or Hangul: 세종대왕급 구축함, Hanja: 世宗大王級驅逐艦), also known as KDX-III, are three guided-missile destroyers of the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN). Hull ...
(Safran Vampir NG) ** Anzac-class frigate (Safran Vampir NG) ** Canberra-class landing helicopter dock (Safran Vampir NG) **
Hobart-class destroyer The ''Hobart'' class is a ship class of three air warfare destroyers (AWDs) built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Planning for ships to replace the ''Adelaide''-class frigates and restore the capability last exhibited by the ''Perth''-cl ...
(Safran Vampir NG) ** Cassard-class frigate (Safran EOMS-NG) **
Floréal-class frigate The ''Floréal'' class is a type of light "surveillance frigates" (french: frégate de surveillance) designed for the needs of the French Navy in low-threat environments ordered in 1989. The ships are named after months of the Republican Calenda ...
(Safran EOMS-NG) ** Horizon-class frigate (Safran EOMS-NG) **
Baynunah-class corvette The ''Baynunah'' class are corvettes for the United Arab Emirates Navy (UAE Navy). The lead ship, ''Baynunah'', is named after the Baynunah region in Abu Dhabi. Six ships are planned for this class at a total price of US$820 million. Sea trials ar ...
(Safran EOMS-NG) ** Gowind-class OPV for Argentina (Safran EOMS-NG) ** Aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (
Thales Thales of Miletus ( ; grc-gre, Θαλῆς; ) was a Greek mathematician, astronomer, statesman, and pre-Socratic philosopher from Miletus in Ionia, Asia Minor. He was one of the Seven Sages of Greece. Many, most notably Aristotle, regarded ...
ARTEMIS) ** FREMM (Thales ARTEMIS) **
Dassault Rafale The Dassault Rafale (, literally meaning "gust of wind", and "burst of fire" in a more military sense) is a French twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. Equipped with a wide range ...
(Safran/Thales
Optronique secteur frontal The ''Optronique secteur frontal'' (OSF) is a long range optoelectronics system developed for the French Dassault Rafale combat aircraft. With its narrow field, the visible waveband capability is truly valuable to identify targets in situations ...
OSF) * ** Aircraft carrier Cavour (
Leonardo Leonardo is a masculine given name, the Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese equivalent of the English, German, and Dutch name, Leonard. People Notable people with the name include: * Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), Italian Renaissance scientist ...
SASS) ** FREMM (Leonardo SASS) ** Doha-class corvette (Leonardo SASS) ** Musherib-class offshore patrol vessel (Leonardo SASS) ** Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F (Leonardo Skyward-G) ** LHD Trieste (Leonardo DSS-IRST) * / / **
Eurofighter Typhoon The Eurofighter Typhoon is a European multinational twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole fighter. The Typhoon was designed originally as an air-superiority fighter and is manufactured by a consortium of Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo ...
( EuroFIRST PIRATE) * ** Halifax-class frigate (
Thales Nederland Thales Nederland B.V. (formerly Hollandse Signaalapparaten B.V. or in short Signaal) is a subsidiary of the French multinational company Thales Group based in the Netherlands. The firm was founded as ''NV Hazemeyer's Fabriek van Signaalapparate ...
Sirius) ** De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate (Thales Nederland Sirius) ** Sachsen-class frigate (Thales Nederland Sirius) * ** Su-27/30/33/35/37 Flanker (OEPS-27/30; OLS-35) ** Mikoyan MiG-31(8TK) ** MiG-29/35 (OEPS-29/OLS-13SM-1) ** Sukhoi Su-57 (101KS-V) * ** ROKS ''Marado'' amphibious assault ship ( Hanwha SAQ-600K) ** ''Daegu''-class frigate (Hanwha SAQ-600K) * **
F110-class frigate The F110 class, also known as the ''Bonifaz'' class, are a multi-purpose, anti-submarine class of Aegis combat system-fitted heavy frigates under construction for the Spanish Navy. The project is being co-developed by the Spanish Ministry of Defen ...
(
Indra Indra (; Sanskrit: इन्द्र) is the king of the devas (god-like deities) and Svarga (heaven) in Hindu mythology. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war.  volumes/ref> I ...
/ Tecnobit IRST i110) * ** JAS-39E/F Gripen NG (Skyward-G) * ** Barbaros-class frigate ( Aselsan PIRI) ** TCG Anadolu (Aselsan PIRI) ** Istanbul-class frigate (Aselsan PIRI) * ** Grumman F-14 Tomcat (AN/AAS-42 IRST) **
McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is an American twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter aircraft designed by McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing). Following reviews of proposals, the United States Air Force selected McDonnell Douglas's ...
(
Lockheed Martin The Lockheed Martin Corporation is an American aerospace, arms, defense, information security, and technology corporation with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It ...
Legion Pod) ** Boeing F-15K/ SG Strike Eagle (AN/AAS-42 “Tiger Eyes”) ** Boeing F-15SA/ QA/ IA/ EX Advanced Eagle (“Tiger Eyes”) ** Lockheed Martin F-16E/F Block 60/62 (AN/AAQ-32 IFTS) ** Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Block III (IRST21) **
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is an American single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (USAF). As the result of the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program, th ...
(long range AIRST)F-22 Raptor Being Readied For AIM-260 Missile By ‘Green Bats’ Testers
/ref> **
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole combat aircraft that is intended to perform both air superiority and strike missions. It is also able to provide el ...
(AN/AAQ-40 EOTS,
AN/AAQ-37 The AN/AAQ-37 Electro-optical Distributed Aperture System (DAS) is the first of a new generation of sensor systems being fielded on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American family of sing ...
DAS) ** Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer (Mark 46 Mod 1 on Flight I/II/IIA, Mark 20 Mod 1 on Flight III) ** Phalanx CIWS Block 1B These fighter aircraft carry the IRST systems for use instead of radar when the situation warrants it, such as when shadowing other aircraft, under the control of
airborne early warning and control Airborne or Airborn may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Airborne'' (1962 film), a 1962 American film directed by James Landis * ''Airborne'' (1993 film), a comedy–drama film * ''Airborne'' (1998 film), an action film sta ...
(AWACS) aircraft, or executing a ground-controlled interception (GCI), where an external radar is used to help vector the fighter to a target and the IRST is used to pick up and track the target once the fighter is in range.


See also

* Electro-optical targeting system *
AN/AAQ-37 The AN/AAQ-37 Electro-optical Distributed Aperture System (DAS) is the first of a new generation of sensor systems being fielded on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American family of sing ...
electro-optical distributed aperture system


References


Citations


Bibliography

* Eden, Paul ed. ''The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft''. London: Amber Books Ltd, 2004. * Kinzey, Bert. ''F-106 Delta Dart, in Detail & Scale''. Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers, 1983. . * Sweetman, Bill and Bonds, Ray. ''The Great Book of Modern Warplanes''. New York, New York: Crown Publishers, 1987.


External links

{{Commons category, Infra-red search and track
Fraunhofer Institut IAF annual report 2006
German and English. Targeting (warfare) Military aviation Military electronics Infrared imaging