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Comment by zmanian | Hacker News Reader

The AIM-9X is infrared imaging based rather than heat signature based. The pilot resolves that contrast between the object and sky before firing the missile and missile targets the object based on the image.

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Do you know what sets it off? Seems like it wouldn't be from impact as these balloon materials couldn't be comparable to say hitting another plane, right?

All modern missiles use a proximity fuse that selects the optimum position relative to the target to detonate, it isn't based on contact. One thing to consider is that the warhead is not in the nose -- that is where the sensors are -- but further back on the missile. These warheads often us an annular (ring-like) blast pattern, hence why positioning and orientation relative to the target at detonation time is important to maximize damage.

Adding to janderwogs response, air intercept missiles don't really deal damage with the explosion. The missiles are built with shrapnel payloads propelled by the explosion. These are what actually damage the aircraft on the receiving end.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proximity_fuze

The AIM-9X uses an IR proximity fuse.

These payloads are duds - all you need to do is to pierce the balloon.

A little research on the Canadian Ballon shootdown a number of years back show that isn't exactly the case. A larger balloon was shot with a (20mm I believe) cannon and continued to float a long distance.

‘Duds’ is an odd way of putting it. Sidewinders usually have an ‘exploding ring of metal rod’ warhead, I believe - and that was replaced by something else better suited to destroying the balloon while leaving the payload intact enough for technical analysis.

> The AIM-9X is infrared imaging based rather than heat signature based.

Isn't heat detected by infrared? What's the difference?

Cloudless sky is cold, and at 30,000 feet extremely cold. Anything not-sky is going to contrast against the sky, even if it has no internal heat source (and remember: if it has electric things in it, it produces heat).

Yes warm bodies put off infrared, but so does the sun, and the suns IR rays are reflected by objects just as they are in the visible range. These reflections used for imaging

The balloon reflects IR, just as it reflects visible light

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