F-35 Mystery: Why Stealth Missiles Evaded Advanced Sensors?
The video examines a puzzling incident in which an F‑35 reportedly was struck by a missile that its 360‑degree electro‑optical/infrared (EOIR) warning system failed to register. The pilot argues that the jet’s passive sensor suite—high‑resolution infrared cameras and electro‑optical detectors—should spot any launch plume, even without a radar lock. However, the discussion highlights that a missile with a tiny turbo‑jet engine, subsonic speed, and a low‑heat exhaust can produce a signature below the sensors’ detection threshold, especially if it is launched from a short distance. The presenter references the alleged Ukrainian footage of a small, subsonic missile (designated 358/359) and suggests it may have been guided by a ground‑based radio command link rather than an active seeker, further reducing its infrared footprint. By contrast, conventional missiles with large rocket motors generate bright plumes that instantly trigger EOIR alerts. If such low‑signature weapons can bypass the F‑35’s early‑warning suite, pilots lose valuable reaction time, undermining the aircraft’s defensive counter‑measure cycle and raising questions about the adequacy of current stealth detection technology in contested environments.
There's a Lot of Iron Flowing Into The Middle East
U.S. Air Force combat aircraft are flowing into the Middle East in an unusual concentration, including multiple F-15E Strike Eagle squadrons and a recent 50-aircraft package that included F-22s and 24 F-16 Block 50/52 jets. The deployed F-16s are configured...