Prompt and Refinement: Asymmetric Mutual Learning for Infrared Small Target Detection with Noisy Labels

Existing data-driven infrared small target detection (ISTD) methods typically require large-scale datasets with accurate pixel-level annotations for model training. However, such labor-intensive requirements are difficult to satisfy in real-world applications due to the heavy reliance on expert knowledge and the inherently weak distinctiveness of infrared small targets. Consequently, the presence of noisy labels during model training is inevitable, which can severely mislead the learning of target perception toward spurious patterns. To address this challenge, we propose Prompt and Refinement (PAR), a label-noise-robust asymmetric mutual learning paradigm for ISTD. Specifically, PAR comprises a pretrained Segment Anything Model (SAM) and an ISTD-specific detector trained from scratch, which learn collaboratively through a peer-teaching scheme. Coupled with local contrast regularity, the predictions of the two asymmetric peer models are mutually exploited as rectification cues for the supervisory masks of their counterparts. The interaction between complementary inductive biases effectively prevents the label correction process from degenerating into the self-confirmation loop of a single model, enabling progressive refinement of the annotations toward intrinsic target characteristics. In addition, the detector predictions are utilized as corrective mask prompts to facilitate task-specific adaptation of the vision foundation model. Moreover, an evidential uncertainty estimation strategy is introduced into the optimization process to further alleviate the adverse effects of noisy labels. Extensive experiments under diverse noisy label scenarios on three ISTD datasets demonstrate that PAR consistently achieves state-of-the-art performance.