Heat Seekers are missiles that track heat sources (typically enemy vehicles). They differ from laser-guided, radar-guided, or wire-guided weaponry.

Battlefield 3Edit

SingleplayerEdit

Jennifer Hawkins, an F/A-18F co-pilot is able to fire them during the jet mission, Going Hunting.

MultiplayerEdit

Heat Seekers
IR Flares ← → Stealth
Unlocked at	• 800 AH score • 1200 SH score • 700 Jet score
Special Feature	Aircraft-tracking missile
Vehicle type	Air vehicles
Customization slot	Air Vehicle Weapon Specialization (Driver only)

Heat Seekers is an air vehicle specialization that adds a secondary weapon designed to counter other air vehicles. It is available for scout helicopters, fighter and attack jets, attack helicopters, and AA Tanks. Upon acquiring weapon lock, the pilot can fire up to two missiles, either the AIM-9X Sidewinder for US, or the R-73 Archer for RU, that will continue to track the target. The missiles also behave in a realistic fashion in that they follow the closest heat source and not always the targeted jet. Examples of this can be seen if a Heat Seeker is shot at two nearby airborne vehicles and the non targeted vehicle flies in the missile's path, causing it to change course and track said vehicle. This can cause unintended results such as a missile meant for a jet tracking a MAV instead. Only the vehicle's pilot may use the weapon. Any airborne vehicle can be targeted, from fighter aircraft all the way down to Micro-UAVs, and everything in-between.

When activated, the pilot's HUD changes to a perforated targeting circle, showing its lock-on area. One can tell if a successful lock-on by a low beeping tone and if the targeting reticule is flashing. A lock-on usually takes 3 seconds to lock, but with the upgrade Beam Scanning, the Lock-on will only take around 1 second. Each missile deals 45 damage to enemy jets, dealing a total of 90 in damage if both of the equipped Heat Seekers connect. Since a jet's disable threshold is 37, one missile hit will not disable the aircraft, but striking with the Main Gun or second Heat Seeker will have it disabled. Heat Seekers can be avoided in multiple ways including IR Flares which distract missiles in flight, ECM Jammer which will prevent lock on for a few seconds when deployed, by leading the missile into a solid object, and by luck in the case of missiles occasional missing their target for a multitude of reasons.

TipsEdit

• Heatseeker abusers use a habit of unleashing both missiles on the intended target. But however is nullified by the IR Flares and ECM jammer. To combat this, alternate launch times. Sacrificing a missile in order to allow the other to hit will ensure a stream of damaging the craft continously. One gets diverted by the countermeasure while the other gets the open chance for a hit, while the other reloads, and repeat.

TriviaEdit

• Unlike the fact that the main pilot is only the one capable of using Heat Seekers, Jennifer Hawkins, a co-pilot can use them in singleplayer mode. This is because they are using a multi-person jet.