plasea help How does the SIdewinder deal with the heat and brightness of the sun ?

Answer 1

If you are talking about the sidewinder heat seeking missile, it doesn't. I once saw a demonstration of that missile at an air show. They launched two flares and fired two sidewinder missiles at the flares. Unfortunately they fired them in the direction of the setting sun and the missiles missed the flares. Some friends who had seen the same demonstration earlier when the Sun was higher said the missiles hit the flares.

Answer 2

I know the initial sidewinders of the seventies sometimes had this problem. However if you think about it the jet engines are burning at a couple thousand degrees temperature meaning that its usually a easy heat source to pick up. Also it most dogfights pilots attempt to keep the sun to their backs. If you have ever played a simulator or seen on TV when a pilot is using a Sidewinder they have a little circle on the HUD when a Heat Source is in that circle the missile will is pretty much going after whatever it is picking up in the circle this is also triggered by a tone the pilot receives. It would be rare that a pilot would even fire a Sidewinder in the direction of the sun because he probably would have difficulty seeing the target and HUD. Plus new technology and all aspect sidewinder missles ensure this is highly unlikely