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IR adjudicates emissivity, that is the rate of heat dissipation compared to surroundings, which may sound like heat seeking but is distinct.

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Originally posted by kkina:
So in the context of guided ordnance, is there such a thing as heat-seeking that is not infrared in nature?

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Originally posted by arabiancowboy:

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Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
Let’s think about the shootdowns. Objects are in general unable to maneuver. This means no engine. No source of heat. This means the missile must be directed to the target. The AIM9X is in general a heat seeking missile, but in these events must be locked on to a target by the pilot with visual acuity and a datalink to the missile. Daylight would be necessary.

You don’t understand AIM9X. It’s incredible. Can even be used to shoot moving ground targets, there are many upgrades.

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While the specifics of exactly which variant of the AIM-9X was used to destroy the balloon are likely not available for security reasons, it may well have been the F-22s upgraded Block II AIM-9X. The new AIM-9X shoots farther and reach a much larger targeting envelope for pilots. Working with a variety of helmets and display systems, Lockheed developers have added “off-boresight” targeting ability enabling pilots to attack enemies from a wide range of new angles.

Raytheon AIM-9X weapons developers have told Warrior that the Block II variant adds a redesigned fuze and a digital ignition safety device that enhances ground handling and in-flight safety. Block II also features updated electronics that enable significant enhancements, including lock-on-after-launch capability using a new weapon datalink to support beyond visual range engagements, a Raytheon statement said. It uses an imaging infrared focal plane array go give it its “off-boresight” targeting ability. Utilizing a Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System, or a new generation of pilot sights, a pilot can control the AIM-9X missile by looking at a target.

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Utilizing a Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System, or a new generation of pilot sights, a pilot can control the AIM-9X missile by looking at a target.

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Originally posted by kkina:

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Utilizing a Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System, or a new generation of pilot sights, a pilot can control the AIM-9X missile by looking at a target.

That's the critical point. In the back of my mind, I thought that the AIM-9x had visual (by the pilot) targeting, but couldn't find a direct reference.

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Originally posted by PGT:
Nobody is saying it, but, Tic-tacs. Definitely tic-tacs.

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Originally posted by kkina:

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IR adjudicates emissivity, that is the rate of heat dissipation compared to surroundings, which may sound like heat seeking but is distinct.

So in the context of guided ordnance, is there such a thing as heat-seeking that is not infrared in nature?

I'm not an expert in this subject, either, but I have worked on missile guidance systems and I generally considered heat-seeking and infrared to be more or less synonymous in practice.

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Originally posted by Skins2881:
Infrared and multispectral cameras can take images the human eye can't see. You can image things in dark or daylight with them like temperature differences or different reflectivity of certain wavelengths off an object.