{"id":25916291,"date":"2026-10-01T11:53:49","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T09:53:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/missile-approach-warning-system-maws-explained-uv-infrared\/"},"modified":"2026-10-01T14:11:58","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T12:11:58","slug":"missile-approach-warning-system-maws-explained-uv-infrared","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/missile-approach-warning-system-maws-explained-uv-infrared\/","title":{"rendered":"Missile Approach Warning Systems: How Aircraft See Heat-Seekers Coming"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.et_pb_title_container h1.entry-title { padding-top: 40px !important; }<\/style>\r\n\r\n<p>A radar-guided missile announces itself. The radar that guides it lights up the target aircraft, and a radar warning receiver hears it. A heat-seeking missile gives no such courtesy. It homes passively on the heat of an engine, and the first sign of trouble may be the missile itself. That is the gap a missile approach warning system, or MAWS, is built to close.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>These sensors watch for the flash and plume of a missile in flight and warn the crew in time to dump flares, turn hard or let an automatic jammer go to work. They are standard on transport aircraft and helicopters, built into the F-22 and F-35, and, as the US Air Force admitted this week, still missing from its newest F-15EX.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f4f6f8;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:18px 22px;margin:20px 0 28px\"><p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:700;color:#0d1117\">Quick Facts<\/p><ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:18px\"><li style=\"margin:3px 0\"><strong>What it does:<\/strong> Detects missiles launched at an aircraft and warns the crew<\/li><li style=\"margin:3px 0\"><strong>Main sensor types:<\/strong> Ultraviolet, infrared and pulse-Doppler radar<\/li><li style=\"margin:3px 0\"><strong>Key requirement:<\/strong> Warning in well under a second, with few false alarms<\/li><li style=\"margin:3px 0\"><strong>Typical response:<\/strong> Flares, evasive manoeuvre, directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM)<\/li><li style=\"margin:3px 0\"><strong>Examples:<\/strong> AN\/AAR-47, AN\/AAR-57, AN\/AAR-60 MILDS, AN\/AAR-56 (F-22), AN\/AAQ-37 DAS (F-35)<\/li><li style=\"margin:3px 0\"><strong>Complements:<\/strong> Radar warning receiver (RWR)<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Why Radar Warning Is Not Enough<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/radar-warning-receiver-rwr-explained\/\">radar warning receiver<\/a> listens for radar emissions. It is excellent against radar-guided surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles, but useless against an infrared-guided missile, which emits nothing. Shoulder-fired missiles such as the Stinger and Igla, and many short-range air-to-air missiles, fall into that category.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>A missile warner instead looks for the missile. Most systems detect the rocket motor's exhaust as it burns, then track its angle and growth to decide whether it is heading for the aircraft. The ideal is near-perfect detection with a reaction time under a second, without crying wolf every time the sun glints off a lake.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/an-aar-47-missile-warning-sensor-c-130e-radom.jpg\" alt=\"AN\/AAR-47 missile approach warning sensor on a C-130E\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">A sensor of the AN\/AAR-47 missile approach warning system on a Polish Air Force C-130E. Variants of the AAR-47 protect C-130s, C-17s, C-5s and V-22s. Photo: Boevaya mashina \/ Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Three Ways to See a Missile<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Ultraviolet<\/strong> sensors work in the solar-blind part of the ultraviolet spectrum, where sunlight is largely absorbed by the atmosphere. A burning rocket motor stands out clearly against an almost black background, so false alarms from the sun are rare. UV systems are simple and all-weather, but they only see a missile while its motor is burning.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Infrared<\/strong> sensors can detect missiles at longer range, especially at altitude where there is no ground clutter, and they give very accurate direction. They struggle in cloud and rain, because water and ice block infrared, and they need cooling and heavy processing to filter out false targets.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Pulse-Doppler radar<\/strong> warners measure a missile's range and speed directly, so they can calculate time to impact even after the motor burns out. The downside is that they transmit, which can give away the aircraft's position.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #1565c0;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7;display:flex;gap:20px;align-items:flex-start\"><div><em>&ldquo;The MWS must alert the F-15EX aircrew to the presence of missiles that may threaten the aircraft without unreasonably distracting the aircrew with false alarms.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center<\/strong> &mdash; F-15EX missile warning system sources-sought notice, September 2026 (as reported by TWZ)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Who Carries Them<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>Transports and helicopters were first to get missile warners as standard, because they fly low and slow where shoulder-fired missiles are most dangerous. The ultraviolet AN\/AAR-47 protects many US transports and tiltrotors, BAE Systems' AN\/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System is standard on US Army helicopters, and Hensoldt's AN\/AAR-60 MILDS equips German and other European aircraft.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/an-aar-60-milds-sensor-german-c-130j-ila-2024.jpg\" alt=\"AN\/AAR-60 MILDS missile warning sensor on a German C-130J\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">An AN\/AAR-60 MILDS missile warning sensor on a German Air Force C-130J at ILA Berlin 2024. Photo: Boevaya mashina \/ Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Fighters followed. The <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/f-22-raptor\/\">F-22 Raptor<\/a> carries the AN\/AAR-56 infrared missile launch detector, and the F-35's AN\/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System uses six infrared cameras around the airframe to give 360-degree missile warning and situational awareness. The <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/f-15-eagle\/\">F-15EX<\/a> was designed with six sensor positions for a warner, but the US Air Force bought it without one and is only now asking industry for a system.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7_YwMEpDFiw\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><em>Defense Updates explains the F-35's AN\/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System, which combines missile warning with 360-degree vision.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">From Warning to Defeat<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>A warning is only useful if it triggers a response. In most aircraft, the missile warner is linked to the countermeasures dispenser, which can fire flares automatically. On larger aircraft it may cue a directional infrared countermeasures system, a turret that points a laser at the missile's seeker to blind or confuse it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The best defence still combines all three: a sensor that sees the missile early, decoys that give it a better target, and a pilot who turns hard at the right moment. Without the first, the other two often start too late.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><em>Sources: Wikipedia (Missile approach warning system), TWZ, BAE Systems, Hensoldt, Defense Updates<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<style>.mfq{margin:34px 0 8px}.mfq h2{font:26px\/1.3 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117;padding-top:22px;margin:0 0 6px}.mfq .qa details{border-top:1px solid #5C91FF;margin:0;padding:0}.mfq .qa details:last-of-type{border-bottom:1px solid #e2e7ee}.mfq .qa summary{cursor:pointer;list-style:none;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;gap:16px;padding:22px 26px;font:18px\/1.7 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117}.mfq .qa summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}.mfq .qa summary::after{content:\"+\";font:24px Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#3568e0;flex:0 0 auto}.mfq .qa details[open] summary::after{content:\"\\2013\"}.mfq .qa details:hover summary{color:#3568e0}.mfq .qa .a{font:16px\/1.7 \"Gilroy regular\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#454e5e;padding:0 26px 24px}.mfq .qa .a a{color:#3568e0}@media(max-width:680px){.mfq .qa summary{padding:18px 14px;font-size:17px}.mfq .qa .a{padding:0 14px 20px}}<\/style>\r\n\r\n\r\n<section class=\"mfq\"><h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2><div class=\"qa\"><details open><summary>What is a missile approach warning system?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">A missile approach warning system (MAWS) is an aircraft sensor system that detects missiles fired at the aircraft and warns the crew, often triggering flares or other countermeasures automatically. It typically uses ultraviolet, infrared or radar sensors.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>What is the difference between a MAWS and a radar warning receiver?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">A radar warning receiver detects radar signals aimed at the aircraft. A missile approach warning system detects the missile itself, usually by its rocket plume, so it can warn of infrared-guided missiles that emit no radar signal.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>How does an ultraviolet missile warning system work?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Ultraviolet missile warners operate in the solar-blind UV band, where sunlight is largely absorbed by the atmosphere. A burning rocket motor stands out against the dark background, giving reliable detection with few false alarms, but only while the motor burns.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Does the F-35 have a missile warning system?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Yes. The F-35's AN\/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System uses six infrared sensors around the aircraft to provide 360-degree missile launch warning, along with night vision and situational awareness for the pilot.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Which aircraft use the AN\/AAR-47?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The AN\/AAR-47 missile approach warning system protects a range of US and allied aircraft, including C-130 Hercules, C-17 and C-5 transports and V-22 Osprey tiltrotors, among others.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Why does the F-15EX lack a missile warning system?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The F-15EX was designed with six sensor positions for a missile warning system, but the US Air Force did not buy one with the jets. In September 2026 it asked industry for an off-the-shelf system to fit those positions.<\/div><\/details><\/div><\/section>\r\n\r\n\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is a missile approach warning system?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"A missile approach warning system (MAWS) is an aircraft sensor system that detects missiles fired at the aircraft and warns the crew, often triggering flares or other countermeasures automatically. It typically uses ultraviolet, infrared or radar sensors.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the difference between a MAWS and a radar warning receiver?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"A radar warning receiver detects radar signals aimed at the aircraft. 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The F-35's AN\/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System uses six infrared sensors around the aircraft to provide 360-degree missile launch warning, along with night vision and situational awareness for the pilot.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Which aircraft use the AN\/AAR-47?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The AN\/AAR-47 missile approach warning system protects a range of US and allied aircraft, including C-130 Hercules, C-17 and C-5 transports and V-22 Osprey tiltrotors, among others.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Why does the F-15EX lack a missile warning system?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The F-15EX was designed with six sensor positions for a missile warning system, but the US Air Force did not buy one with the jets. In September 2026 it asked industry for an off-the-shelf system to fit those positions.\"}}]}<\/script><div style=\"background:#f0f4ff;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:16px 20px;margin:32px 0 8px\"><p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:600;color:#333\">Related Posts<\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/f-15ex-missile-warning-system-sources-sought-usaf-2026\/\">F-15EX Missile Warning: USAF Seeks System It Skipped Buying<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/radar-warning-receiver-rwr-explained\/\">Radar Warning Receivers: How a Fighter Knows It Is Being Hunted<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/how-heat-seeking-missile-infrared-seeker-works\/\">How a Heat-Seeking Missile Works, and Why Flares Stopped Saving You<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/chaff-flares-countermeasures-how-jets-defeat-missiles\/\">How Jets Trick Missiles Into Missing<\/a><\/p><\/div>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A radar-guided missile announces itself. The radar that guides it lights up the target aircraft, and a radar warning receiver hears it. A heat-seeking missile gives no such courtesy. It homes passively on the heat of an engine, and the first sign of trouble may be the missile itself. That is the gap a missile [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":25915872,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[665,664],"tags":[676],"class_list":["post-25916291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aviation-world","category-military-aviation","tag-priority-2"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Missile Approach Warning Systems Explained | MiGFlug<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How a missile approach warning system spots heat-seeking missiles with UV, infrared or radar sensors, which aircraft carry one, and why the F-15EX doesn&#039;t.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link 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