What is the primary function of flares in military operations?

The primary function of flares in military operations is to provide a much hotter target. Flares are designed to generate intense heat and light to create a thermal signature that can confuse and divert heat-seeking missiles or enemy detection systems. When deployed, the flare’s heat is significantly higher than that of the aircraft or ground resources, making it an attractive target for incoming threats aimed at the actual military asset, effectively drawing the attention away from the intended target.

In the context of military strategy, this use of flares enhances the survivability of aircraft in hostile environments, as it can help mitigate the risk from surface-to-air or air-to-air missiles. While flares can have other uses in signaling contexts, such as distress signals, their primary intended function in military operations is as a countermeasure to misleading heat-seeking threats.