Abstract: The addition of infrared detectors on a ballistic platform, thus detecting and warning the interceptor, is an innovative method to improve the surprise defense and survival capability of the ballistic platform. In this study, the infrared radiation characteristics of the interceptor are analyzed and the parameters of the infrared detector used to detect the interceptor are speculated with respect to the detection capability of the ballistic infrared detector. A detection probability model is derived based on the relationship between the detection probability and input signal-to-noise ratio and a signal-to-noise ratio model is derived based on the radiation difference. Therefore, the detection requirements of the late and mid-range defense interceptors are analyzed, and the detection capability of the bullet-borne infrared detector is analyzed in terms of the detection probability and action distance. The results of the analysis show that the ballistic infrared detector has a strong detection capability for the late stage interceptor; it can guarantee detection in the sunlight area for the middle stage interceptor, whereas only a certain detection angle has detection capability in the sun-shadow area.