Predators flir detecting-identifying human heat signature from 3km altitude.
https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3Wkn...o6uco/wiki/General_Atomics_MQ-1_Predator.html
Considering an after burning jet engine is much hotter there is no reason for a ground based flir system to not to passively detect a fighter jet about 7-10kms altitude from short horizontal ranges like 5km in open sky suitable for point defense.
Next generation sams are much lighter because of composite materials and can be carried even by several infantry. For example pantsyrs rocket is about 80kg and can reach 15km altitude.
Manpads still have its use which are easy to deploy anywhere by anything and when facing low altitude helicopters for example but they are almost no use for high flying targets like fixed wing aircraft. Lightweight measures need to be developed to complement manpads that can be carried by light vehicles or even infantry by lightweight missiles and ir-eoptical system parts carried separately to be assembled for use complementing manpads.
https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3Wkn...o6uco/wiki/General_Atomics_MQ-1_Predator.html
Considering an after burning jet engine is much hotter there is no reason for a ground based flir system to not to passively detect a fighter jet about 7-10kms altitude from short horizontal ranges like 5km in open sky suitable for point defense.
Next generation sams are much lighter because of composite materials and can be carried even by several infantry. For example pantsyrs rocket is about 80kg and can reach 15km altitude.
Manpads still have its use which are easy to deploy anywhere by anything and when facing low altitude helicopters for example but they are almost no use for high flying targets like fixed wing aircraft. Lightweight measures need to be developed to complement manpads that can be carried by light vehicles or even infantry by lightweight missiles and ir-eoptical system parts carried separately to be assembled for use complementing manpads.