Few ideas

All concern with IRST

1)How about using Attack Helicopters or low flying turbo prop trainers like Super Tucano or PC-21 or something and mounting an IRST on them and IR AAMs like R-73M2(30km range), Python 5(20-30km range), or other IR AAMs like the R-27 or R-77. I understand that IRST is heavily depended on weather but the weather isnt always crappy. I would not expect these to tackle supersonic fighters offensively but rather be used defensively. An Attack Helicopter’s survivability against fighters could further be increased over the battlefield, a hovering helicopter at low altitude will not be detected by a fighter, and a low flying turbo prop flying low defending some airfield or something could be pretty effective, since it will fly low and enemy will have a hard time detecting it. I understand, if a turbo prop or a helicopter was flying at low altitude the missile would have to climb up and such, however the thing is with a IR BVR AAM like R-77 or R-27, it will have plenty of time to climb up.

2)How about for SAMs and/or ships, besides possibly having a radar, could also have an IRST. Develop a surface launched SAM with IR R-27/R-77(the R-77-ZRK is in development) and use it with surface IRST to track targets. SAMs could be also be linked with this besides the weather, and especially at night they would be a lot less vulnerable to ARMs. A small patrol/missile boat with this could also use it with the radar and to target enemy aircraft. Besides, during bad weather and rain when it cannot use it’s IRST it could use it’s radar, but however enemy will have a harder time detecting it in the sea since it’s small anyways, and because of all the waves and such.