posted on Apr, 10 2019 @ 02:08 PM
a reply to:
Excallibacca
they are used to fool IR seekers because they offer the seeker a 'brighter' target in the infrared and in new seekers ultraviolet spectral bands.
most small shoulder launched missiles have pretty simple seekers and don't use visible light to track targets, newer missiles do have a database of
various aircraft shapes to help it not get fooled by counter measures but i don't think they use visible light either.
the flares released in this video are not for illumination on the ground(it was day time), illumination flares usually have parachutes and long burn
times and are very very bright white light(think burning magnesium), there are special flares for illuminating the ground at night that can only be
seen(for the most part) thru night vision equipment.
the attackers in this case wouldn't have high end missile systems to bring down US aircraft, at best they would have something similar to our stinger
systems. US aircraft have some pretty advanced countermeasure systems that dont rely on burning flares so to see a random green one that appears to
come from the same canister is odd and must have a reason or very niche weapon countermeasure for the different color.
ETA: i guess it could be a signal flare but i have only ever heard of them coming from the ground, but the quick red to green release might be just
that...signal flares
edit on 10-4-2019 by penroc3 because: (no reason given)