Flares are effective against which type of missiles?

Flares are specifically designed to counter infrared-guided missiles, which are often used in various military applications. These missiles track the heat signatures emitted by aircraft, such as those from engines or other hot surfaces. When an aircraft releases flares, they generate a significant amount of heat, which can attract the missile away from the aircraft.

Infrared missiles primarily rely on tracking these thermal signatures, so the deployment of flares creates a decoy that can mislead the missile's guidance system. This tactic is critical for enhancing the survivability of aircraft during combat situations where missile threats are prevalent.

The other options are less relevant to the effectiveness of flares. Radar-guided missiles rely on reflected radar waves to lock onto a target, while electromagnetic missiles use different types of sensors not affected by heat emissions. Conventional bombs, on the other hand, are not guided by the same systems and do not track heat signatures, making flares ineffective against them. Therefore, the selection of infrared missiles as the correct choice stems from their specific operational characteristics that flares are designed to counteract.