Minimization of Aircraft Infrared Susceptibility in Three-Dimensional Space Through Signature Synchronization

Missile launches are not typically at the same altitude as aircraft. However, few studies have examined the infrared (IR) susceptibility of aircraft in 3-D space. In this study, we propose conditions for minimizing signature contrast with the background (i.e., signature synchronization) based on 3-D IR signature characteristics. We also develop an in-house code that considers the flight behavior of both IR-guided air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles to analyze the full-range susceptibility of aircraft in 3-D space. This code is used to confirm the camouflage effect of the signature synchronization strategy. The results show that when the aircraft fuselage is coated with background-optimized emissivity, the lethal area reduction is significantly better than conventional low-emissivity camouflage in all elevational detection situations, regardless of the type of missile. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the signature synchronization strategy in reducing the full-range 3-D IR susceptibility of aircraft.