Detailed theoretical calculations of Auger and radiative recombination rates for an optimized InAs/InxGa1−xSb superlattice (SL) and bulk HgxCd1−xTe (MCT) show that 300 K background limited operation for a 60° field of view can be theoretically achieved up to 130 K for the 11 &mgr;m SL and up to 185 K for 5 &mgr;m MCT. The SL structure is theoretically superior to MCT for 11 &mgr;m operation. The converse is true at 5 &mgr;m.