On the F22 and F35 aircraft usually all weaponry is carried internally and launched / dropped as required after the bay doors are opened


In previous, non stealthy military aircraft however, IR missiles such as the
Sidewinder carried them exposed on a pylon or under the fuselage, this allows their seeker heads to sense and lock on to potential heat sources / targets


So how does this work on an F22 / 35 when IR missiles are carried internally ?


Since they are contained within the
aircraft how can they seek and / or
lock on to any heat source ?


I’m thinking there’s a sophisticated sensor
on the aircraft itself that inputs targeting information to these missiles before they
are launched after which their own
heat seekers ‘take over’ ?