What type of light source does the Stinger missile use to track on a target?

What type of light source does the Stinger missile use to track on a target?

• A. Infrared
• B. Positive Ultraviolet
• C. Negative Ultraviolet
• D. Visible

Answer: (C)

Tracking with infrared is what the Stinger relies on. The missile uses a passive infrared seeker to sense the heat radiated by the target—especially hot aircraft engines and exhaust—so it can home in without illuminating the target. This makes it effective in daylight, smoke, or poor visibility because it doesn’t depend on visible light. Ultraviolet or visible-light tracking isn’t how this system works, and the infrared heat signature is what the seeker locks onto as the target. So the light source used to track is infrared.

Tracking with infrared is what the Stinger relies on. The missile uses a passive infrared seeker to sense the heat radiated by the target—especially hot aircraft engines and exhaust—so it can home in without illuminating the target. This makes it effective in daylight, smoke, or poor visibility because it doesn’t depend on visible light. Ultraviolet or visible-light tracking isn’t how this system works, and the infrared heat signature is what the seeker locks onto as the target. So the light source used to track is infrared.