Panstir used a very modern rade. Ozelot stinger missiles are also pretty modern. Those are basically made to counter low thermal/radar signature objects such as drones, or f117.
Basically the f117 stealth is only useful against older SAM systems, from 2S6 (about 6-8km) or Roland.
It also depends on what you show. If you show your belly, your gonna get detected. If you show the front or side, your okay.
For IR missiles, yeah it’s stupid an f117 can be locked at 6km while and heli is 3km.
But IRL helis should be locked from much further distances (the mistral lacks from 2 to 3 times its range against helis for example). So I would actually say that the f117 lock range is more realistic while heli lock range is stupidly under performing
This is what I got from google…Asking, “Can a fim-92 stinger missiles get a lock on a f117 stealth fighter”.
No, a FIM-92 Stinger missile is highly unlikely to get a lock on an F-117 stealth fighter due to the F-117’s stealth design, which significantly reduces its infrared signature, making it very difficult for an infrared-guided missile like the Stinger to detect and track it effectively.
Key points to consider:
Stinger’s guidance system:
The Stinger missile uses an infrared seeker, meaning it primarily detects the heat signature of an aircraft’s engine exhaust to lock on to a target.
F-117’s stealth features:
The F-117 is designed to minimize its infrared signature through features like specially shaped engine nozzles and radar-absorbent materials, making it very hard for infrared-guided missiles to acquire a lock.
Therefore, while a Stinger might theoretically attempt to engage an F-117, the chances of it successfully locking on and hitting the stealth fighter are extremely low.
Also, you have a woefully simplified IR signature system in game that likely is causing issues. Especially when it comes to directional heat signature obscurance.
We’ve had aircraft for years, like the Harriers that should be able to hide their heat sigs from rear aspect shots (maybe even against all-aspect seekers) via the use of a VIFF, but does nothing in game, in fact the Harriers are some of the hottest aircraft in game by a country mile.
Just from this you can take that Google search answer and throw it into the bin. It’s making the average war thunder US main error of mixing IR and Radar-absorbent materials.
The f117 might be far less visible than most other jet powered aircraft’s, but when modern stinger use dual band, modern mistral use thermal imaging (not that modern even. Mistral 2 with thermal imaging is from the 2000s), then they can very likely lock f117 from those ranges that OP recorded. Those missiles can lock piston engines which produce far less heat. Heck, the French Mistral even recorded several kills on t64s engine decks during the first gulf war. I don’t know if there are significant variants of the stinger in game (because there’s only 1 mistral in game), nor do I know what variant the Ozelot uses, but depending on that, yes, the f117 is very much vulnerable to those MANPAD systems
and all the heat signature mitigation technologies cant actually 100% eliminate a heat signature, There will always be exhaust coming out the back of the aircraft that will be visible to any ground based IR weapon. I can totally see it being harder to lock on though
I also wouldnt be surprised if throttling way down was also a big part of the F-117s tactic for avoiding IR weapons and also minimising sound/light when attacking at night but ingame people are probably sat at 100% throttle
Is the 117 underpreforming? Most likely. Will you be able to prove it? doubtful.
There were a lot of things taken into consideration to lower the heat sig of the 117 and in game you are locking up like it’s an F-14. How close to accuracy we will ever get this idk most of it is still classified.
Your best option IMHO is leave it as a hangar queen.
Congrats on realizing you don’t need a radar lock to launch a missile at a target I guess?
You forget there is
IRST
Using your eyes
Hand aiming
Laughed a bit; they fire FIM-92 Stinger. Other than that mistake aside, that’s utter BS, that shouldn’t be possible frankly, that is unless you weren’t at 12k feet, oh, wait, metric barrier; 12k feet is, nothing, I thought you meant 12k Meters, as in 12 Kilometers.
12000ft is just 3.6km. At 3.6km Stealth is pretty much useless. Even a AIM-9 can lock you at that distance.
Instead of flying at 12000ft try flying at 12km or 40000ft.
the stinger that cant even target a helicopter over 4km… can somehow target a stealth fighter with ir reduction radar reduction / scattering built in mind to it… from 12k feet
