If you were to ask me I’d say the IRIS-T isn’t really a cost effective weapon, compared to the Aim9X which is in the same category, but much cheaper due to being based on older AIM9s, (even if probably still a bit worse), or the longer range IR missiles like ASRAAM or MICA, which are more expensive but overall more capable, as they can also do off the shoulder shots and the tight turn of the IRIS-T over them realistically doesn’t really matter.
Quite funny: The AIM-9X is reported to cost 472.000$ per unit in 2021. The IRIS-T is stated to cost ~400.000$ (for non-project members AFAIK), so it’s effectively cheaper.
I personally don’t see any realistic scenario where that would be the case. Obviously in simulated events where you are in a close quarters turn fight it would be relevant, but I don’t see that happening anymore
It is also designed to be used as a hardkill system in cooperation with the MAW and RWR (and even datalink from other aircraft) to destroy missiles in a 360° sphere around the jet AFAIK.
The capacity to destroy other missiles has also been advertised for other missiles. I guess it would be better in this situation tho, but I think this would only be last, last resort situation
Theoretically, it doesnt need to look “at” the LDIRCM at all either. Once its scanned it once, it could scan around the brightest point of the LDIRCM, effectively nullifying the LDIRCM and acting wholly as a HOJ function.
iirc, HOJ working based on tracking via LDIRCM intensity gradient has already been discussed in the past with sources with regards to IIR missiles.