IRST Technology Makes the F-35 and F-22 Stealth Feature Vulnerable

The Infrared Search and Track (IRST) technology seeks out heat signatures, even the F-22 and 35, which are supposed to be invisible. Though radar cannot lock on, this system detects heat signatures, making most stealth fighters visible.

IRST System Able To Detect American Targets

This technology is used on modern fighters from several countries' fighter jets that are called differently; one is the Skyward G of the Gripen to the Su-57s 101KS-V, reported EurAsian Times.

The infrared (IR) signature of an aircraft, also known as the heat signature, is produced by two main sources: the heating of the airframe's leading and trailing edges and nose, brought on by air friction; and the heat from the engine and its exhaust, also known as jet efflux.

Jet engines emit the most heat detectably; modern jet powerplants can heat up fuel in the combustion changer up to 2100 degrees centigrade.

When engine exhaust passes through the rotor blades, it is estimated that the temperature is between 850 and 950 degrees centigrade.

Usually moving between one and three meters per second away from the turbines, these fumes become noticeably cooler once they are free of the hot exhaust nozzle and into the open atmosphere.

Jet exhaust, shaped like a circle, is surrounded by hot gases that condense into a cone and expand backward.

When viewed from behind, jet efflux will register on the IRST technology sensor and can be locked at a greater distance, noted Military Aerospace.

Due to the frontal portion of the jet pointing at the IR sensor, efflux is simpler to conceal whenever a jet is detected from the front. This decreases the thermal signature exposure of most stealth aircraft.

F-22 Raptor Specifications

This US-made 5th gen jet has exhaust nozzles with a rectangle shape but is wider than is taller. One reason is the engine exhaust's reduced rear view angle, which hides how heat reflections from the engine occur, which results in a significant decrease in IR.

Furthermore, rectangular nozzles' exhaust gases do not expand conically. They cool down quickly and lessen the aircraft's IR signature because they quickly mix with the surrounding air and take on a roughly rectangular shape.

The Raptor's rectangular nozzle reduces radar reflection, but it is an expensive stealth jet design. Due to the high cost, other radar-invisible aircraft don't use it; instead, pick a front nose cone that is harder to spot, citing Aviation Geek.

To facilitate a quicker mixing of exhaust gases with the surrounding air and a lower IR signature, the F-35 has a serrated circular exhaust nozzle. This kind of nozzle lessens IR by 40% compared to a circle one.

The F-35 exhaust system also incorporates a cooled turbine face blocker to obscure the view of the turbine and cooling louvers in the exhaust nozzle to enable cooler air to enter from the outside.

Most 5th-generation plane tail components are arranged to reduce the IR sensor's catching heat sources from all angles.

Using metallic mirror-like coating on the F-35 and F-22 is supposed to lessen the IR signature, but it has a supposed effect on radar reflection, per Air Force Technology.

IRST Technology can deter IR sources despite attempts to hide stealth fighters; the skin still gets hot.