Chinese missile AI tracks F-22, F-35-like heat signatures with over 90% accuracy

Chinese researchers have developed a lightweight AI system that identifies heat signatures of F-22 and F-35 stealth fighters with over 90% accuracy in laboratory tests, potentially making flares ineffective in future air combat. The study, led by An Jiangshan and published on August 10, suggests such models could be widely used in future air-to-air missiles for high-speed, accurate target recognition.

Advertisement Chinese missile AI tracks F-22, F-35-like heat signatures with over 90% accuracy Lightweight, low-cost, heat-seeking missiles could be used to identify stealth fighters in future air combat with strong accuracy 2-MIN READ2-MIN Listen Chao Kong /author/chao-kong in Beijing The F-35 and F-22 may be among the world’s most advanced stealth fighters https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3354563/could-all-chinas-aircraft-carriers-soon-operate-j-35-stealth-fighters?module=inline&pgtype=article , but they cannot hide one thing: heat.When heat-seeking missiles lock onto aircraft, fighters release flares to confuse infrared sensors and break missile tracking. But the infrared signals produced by fighters, including heat from engine exhaust and air friction over the fuselage, are different from those generated by flares. These heat signatures could provide valuable infrared information for target detection and recognition in future air combat, while making flares useless. Chinese researchers have created a lightweight artificial intelligence https://www.scmp.com/topics/artificial-intelligence?module=inline&pgtype=article AI system that could help heat-seeking air-to-air missiles identify advanced fighter jets, and they demonstrated its high accuracy in laboratory tests against mock-up F-22 and F-35 targets.“Lightweight recognition models could become widely used in future air-to-air missiles https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348174/what-debut-new-air-based-missile-means-chinas-nuclear-strategy?module=inline&pgtype=article because they can provide high-speed recognition while maintaining strong identification capabilities,” An Jiangshan, first author of the study, said on August 10.Advertisement Select Voice Select Speed 1.00x