How Heat Seeking Missile Works I Aim 9 Sidewinder

This is a heat-seeking missile, and inside this cover is the optical guidance system. The heat source from this aircraft travels through a set of lenses into the reticle, which spins on its axis. These infrared signatures are converted into audible tones like this sound here. All set and done, the pilot releases the missile, which uses a solid fuel rocket as the motor to chase the infrared heat source. The servo section controls the four canards to guide this AIM-9 Sidewinder towards the target. However, sometimes it could lock onto the sun or another heat source instead of an enemy airplane, such as a plane deploying flares. Later on, the AIM-9X began using infrared cameras to take pictures of where the seeker head is looking and, again, use computer algorithms to find their target. The difference is that IIR seekers can recognize the shape of an aircraft and compare it against a database, using that information to improve their ability to track the target. #miss