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ASRAAM - developed for the UK Royal Air Force and Royal Navy and ordered by Australia - and the AIM-9X - developed for the US forces - share a common Raytheon developed imaging infrared (I²R) seeker with a 180° field of view. I²R has greater sensitivity and, unlike earlier seekers, can distinguish between the target and countermeasures such as flares, and even between different parts of the aircraft allowing aim point selection when coupled with suitable signal processing. Aim point selection allows the missile to target a specific point on the aircraft rather than heading for the hottest spot, usually the jet pipe. Many aircraft have limped home with damaged exhausts and a tail peppered with shrapnel. The technique also allows for different types to be attacked in different locations. "Type A" may be best defeated by a hit close to the intake, whereas "Type B" will most likely be destroyed by a strike at the wing root.
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BGT IRIS-T marketing manager Gerhard Dussler says the 128 x 2 element array produces a 128 x 128 size picture 80 times a second and, like its competitors, uses aim point selection for greater accuracy and to defeat IR countermeasures. --