Chinese missile AI tracks F-22, F-35-like heat signatures with over 90% accuracy

This article reports a concrete Chinese military-technological breakthrough that directly threatens the operational viability of F-35 and F-22 platforms—the cornerstones of Australian and allied air defence. The demonstration that AI can distinguish true fighter heat signatures from decoy flares at >90% accuracy invalidates decades of stealth-fighter doctrine and raises urgent questions about AUKUS air-combat capability, ADF fighter procurement timelines, and whether next-generation platforms (F-35 Block 4, future hypersonic air defence) can be delivered fast enough to offset the window of vulnerability.