Do they have lock on systems or what
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Modern fighters typically use 2 different techniques to acquire and track targets. The primary method is to use radar which transmits a powerful radio wave and waits for an echo through an antenna that continuously sweeps in front of the aircraft. Depending on when the echo is received, the part of the antenna it’s received on and how much the frequency of the echo is different from the frequency transmitted, the radar system can tell you how far it is away from you, at what angle it is relative to you, how fast and direction it’s going. By comparing that information with your navigation system you can tell exactly where the target is. The main disadvantage of this is it’s like using a flashlight in the dark to look for something, everyone can see that there’s an airborne radar looking for something to kill and it can only look in front of you.
The other system primarily used is infrared search and track. It uses the target aircraft’s heat to detect it; since it’s a passive system, you can’t tell you’re being targeted. The primary disadvantage is without transmitting something like a laser, you can’t tell how far something is away, you can’t tell what direction it’s going and you can’t tell how fast it’s going. IR is also attenuated by moisture in the atmosphere so humidity reduces it’s range and targets can completely stay hidden in clouds.
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