Which type of infrared sensing does the AIM-9X targeting rely on?

• A. Passive infrared
• B. Active infrared
• C. Thermal imaging
• D. Lidar

Answer: (A)

Infrared sensing can be either passive or active. The AIM-9X uses an imaging infrared seeker that passively detects heat emitted by the target, forming an image of its heat signature without emitting any energy of its own. That means it doesn’t illuminate the target or rely on reflections, which would be characteristic of active infrared. Lidar uses laser pulses, not infrared radiation from the target, and thermal imaging is a broad way of describing infrared imaging, but the system’s mode is best described as passive infrared. So the missile relies on detecting the target’s heat without sending out its own IR signal.