Abstract: Infrared guidance system is an important subsystem of infrared guided air-to-air missile. The development of infrared guidance system is regarded as a sign of the upgrading of tactical missile technology and plays an important role in the development of modern weapons and equipment. This paper introduces the necessity of using short-range air-to-air infrared imaging guided missile, the classification and development of infrared guidance system, the development history of foreign air-to-air infrared imaging guided missile and the technical characteristics of the fourth generation infrared imaging seeker, focusing on the analysis of the current development of American AIM-9X missile and its seeker technical design performance. In this paper, the main performance and technical characteristics of the fourth generation air-to-air missile infrared seeker are compared, and the development trend of the fourth generation air-to-air missile technology system in the future is analyzed comprehensively, aiming at providing useful reference for the current research and development of infrared guidance technology in China.