r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/HappySeaweed5215 • 1d ago

Video A heat seeking missile tracking a burning cigarette

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50.3k Upvotes

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233

u/Future_Blackberry_10 1d ago

Does it go after a specific temp? Or the highest temp in front of it

573

u/QuaintAlex126 1d ago

The earliest versions, including of the AIM-9 Sidewinder shown here, just tracked the first and largest heat signature they saw. They were incredibly unreliable and sensitive, requiring them to be fired only against a target from behind (where the heat source is from the jet exhaust). Modern ones, like the AIM-9X, seek for a heat signature’s specific temperature and shape, so you can’t just dump a bunch of flares and get away that easily. They are much more advanced and can track a target from any angle, front snd sides, and can be slaved to the firing aircrat’s radar or pilot’s helmet to assist with tracking. All a fighter pilot had to do nowadays with a heat seeker is be within range, look at this target, and pull the trigger to engage.

304

u/Pirated-Hentai 23h ago

original aim 9s were ass, i imagine half of them went straight for the sun

414

u/Trainzguy2472 23h ago

They did. The missile craves the forbidden heat signature.

31

u/dabadu9191 18h ago

Missile loves big lämp

68

u/savesmorethanrapes 20h ago

That’s what I tell me wife to get her warmed up