Decoy Flare (Countermeasure)

A (decoy) flare is an aerial infrared countermeasure 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.

An F-15E Strike Eagle from the 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron pops flares during an aerial training dog fight here recently. The 391st EFS are deployed here from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, on a rotational basis supporting the U.S. Air Force's continued forward presence in the Western Pacific.

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter aircraft deploys countermeasure flares Nov. 12, 2008, over Afghanistan. The aircraft is assigned to the 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

An F-15E Strike Eagle from the 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, launches heat decoys Dec. 15 during a close-air-support mission over Afghanistan.

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft pitches out while popping flares over Iraq on Nov. 9, 2011

F-18 flare
flares are used to "confuse"
heat-seeking missles

Super Puma firing Flares

A display of an F-18 Hornet of the Finnish Air Force dropping flares to evade a heat-seeking missile.

F-15 Thunder

A British C-130J aircraft launches a display flare

This Dutch Apache showed off its agility remarkably well during its display. This picture taken mid-loop and just managing to catch the flares.

An RNZAF C-130 Hercules deploys flares as part of the current aircraft self protection system

Source: Wikipedia