Flare (countermeasure)

Common card · No. 277023

A flare or decoy flare is an aerial infrared countermeasure used by an aircraft to counter an infrared homing ("heat-seeking") surface-to-air missile or air-to-air missile. Flares are commonly composed of a pyrotechnic composition based on magnesium or another hot-burning metal, with burning temperature equal to or hotter than engine exhaust. The aim is to make the infrared-guided missile seek out the heat signature from the flare rather than the aircraft's engines.

Read on Wikipedia · Image U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Mark J. Rebilas, Public domain