[Stealhead]

Yeah you have to hand it to the Soviets sometimes they actually did come up with some pretty clever counters the long range IR missiles being one of them and a pretty clever one at that seeing as it is very hard to hide your heat signature from a good IR sensor.They are so sensitive that they can even acquire a lock from the heat generated by the friction of the air frame alone of course that would be at closer range.Also I image that modern IR guided missiles are much "smarter" and harder to fool with flares.That means in theory a good IR system and missile has a good chance against even a stealth(to radar) aircraft even they generate some friction in flight on the air frame.

Some western fighters are starting to mount similar sensors as well the Grippen can be mounted with one.The Soviet/Russian ones also are not just used for locking onto a target they can be used to scan the sky ahead and then the pilot can either fire an IR guided or he may choose to fire a radar guided missile at the target when he gets close allowing the target less time to react to the alert and subsequent launch of of a radar guided missile for some time the Soviets had a policy of firing one radar and one IR guided missile at a target to increase the odds of a hit of course that was with older missile technology not the better systems that started entering service in the late 70s.