[0003]

IR is only really effective in the short-range (see an aim-9 which is only effective less than 20 nm (really less than that practically speaking). When they talk about this, they mean protection against beyond visual range missiles.

[hguant]

>(see an aim-9 which is only effective less than 20 nm (really less than that practically speaking)

I would really love to see the actual Probability of Kill numbers for the US missile fleet. I know that's never going to happen/they're going to remain classified for a _long_ time, but the kid in me really wants to know "does it actually work?"

[0003]

You tend to get the results from who we sell the missiles too. Ironically, I believe Iran has the most kills for the F-14 / AIM-54 missile, which had a whopping 100nm range. Then, I think Israel has been demonstrating the most combat effectiveness of the the F-35 in attacks in Syria...

Air-combat is "hard" to answer the "does it actually work" because it is very much like high stakes chess in the air. A lot of times you fire 1 missile to make the bogey defensive, and multiple missiles to kill. This gets even more complicated when you factor in differences in pilot skill, numbers, chaff, and electronic counter measures.

[stallmanite]

nm here I’m guessing is nautical miles? Nanometer range missiles would be tricky to wage war with.