Infrared Signature Management of Warships

With rapid advancements in detector technology in the last couple of decades in the field of infrared (IR), infrared seeker missiles have become a formidable threat to warships in hostile environments. In modern naval operations, effective infrared signature management stands out as a critical element influencing the security strategies of warships. IR radiation is capable of passing through the atmosphere in Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) (3–5 µm) and Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR)(8–12 µm) ranges only and given that all contemporary infrared seeker missiles operate in MWIR and LWIR ranges, the paper presents a methodology to estimate a warship’s infrared radiation in these spectral ranges. This paper proposes a holistic approach for complete IR signature management of a warship, encompassing three essential components viz., IR prediction, IR signature suppression, and IR signature measurement. © The Institution of Engineers (India) 2025.