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For the similar specialization for ground vehicles, see IR Smoke
Decoy flares

A Su-30 deploys IR flares during an air show

IR Flares, also known as Infrared Flares, is a specialization available for jets and both types of helicopters that breaks the heat seeking missile's lock when deployed.

Battlefield 2[]

F-18 flare BF2

F/A-18 flaring

IR Flares first appeared in Battlefield 2 as a countermeasure for heat seeking air to air missiles, to escape either enemy aircrafts or enemy anti-air positions such as Stinger/IGLA positions or Mobile Anti-Air vehicles. It appears by default for every aircraft in the game, including all helicopters and airplanes.

Every aircraft drops 6 sets of decoy IR flares in a single use and they are replenished infinitely after a few seconds of delay, although transport helicopters in the game gets replenished with flares much faster than any other aircrafts. Although flares may distract the missile most of the times, there is no guarantee it will miss all the times. Hence it is advised to perform evasive maneuvers while flaring to break off/avoid the enemy missiles better.

Also it is highly advised to wait for the enemy missile lock warning sound to indicate the enemy has already fired the missile before you deploy the flares, else the enemy can just wait till you run out of flares and fire missiles.

Battlefield 3[]

"Infrared flare launchers that when launched will distract incoming missiles and cause them to miss their locked target."

— Battlelog description

IR Flares is a vehicle specialization featured in Battlefield 3. It adds infrared flares to aircraft, deployable with the countermeasures button which is X by default on PC, R1 on PS3, and RB on Xbox 360. Flares deployed by one aircraft can protect other nearby aircraft even if the deploying aircraft was not originally targeted.

IR Flares are only effective against heat-seeking weaponry such as the FIM-92 Stinger, SA-18 Igla, and the anti-air missiles on jets, helicopters, and mobile AA. To counter these weapons, flares must be deployed after receiving a "missile lock" tone—high-pitched fast beeping at a steady tone—and before the missile is in striking range of the aircraft (depending on latency).

Laser-guided missiles cannot be deterred with flares until the laser lock itself is broken by terrain or destroying the painting device. Pilots can use overhead cover such as bridges or hangars to defend against these top-attacking missiles should breaking the lock prove difficult.

Once deployed, the flares require an 11-second waiting period before they can be deployed again. An audio cue will signify when the flares are ready to be deployed again as well as a visual indicator on the heads-up display in a corner of the screen.

Patches[]

  • Before the 1.03 (December 2011) patch, IR Flares could also break weapon locks.
  • The 1.04 (March 2012) patch allows IR Flares to deter laser-guided missiles, but only when the laser lock is broken.
  • The 1.06 (September 2012) patch removed IR Flares from attack helicopters' gunner seats. Before this, gunners could equip flares with a 20-second delay, allowing them to cover gaps in the pilot's defenses.


Battlefield 4[]

"Infared [sic] flare launchers that, when deployed, spoof incoming missiles and break lock-ons."

— Game description

IR Flares are a specialization featured in Battlefield 4, having a similar effect to that of the Battlefield 3 counterpart.

Flares deployed by one aircraft can protect other nearby aircraft and even ground targets from guided weapons and can even spoof locks by the tracking source.

IR Flares are effective against heat-seeking weaponry such as the FIM-92 Stinger, SA-18 Igla, and the anti-air missiles on Jets, helicopters, and Mobile Anti-Air. To counter these weapons, flares can be either deployed before or after receiving a "missile lock" or "locking..." tone—high-pitched fast beeping at a steady tone—and before the missile is in striking range of the aircraft. When deployed before missile launch, the countermeasure can spoof the lock source momentarily before exposing the aircraft again unless the aircraft travels below radar for protection.

Laser-guided missiles can be deterred with flares or until the laser lock itself is broken by terrain or destroying the painting device. Pilots can use overhead cover such as bridges or hangars to defend against these top-attacking missiles should breaking the lock prove difficult.

Once deployed, the flares require an 11-second waiting period before they can be deployed again. An audio cue will signify when the flares are ready to be deployed again as well as a visual indicator on the heads-up display in a corner of the screen.

The player's HUD now shows how many individual flares will be deployed. For instance, scout helicopters carry six, deployed one at a time during the flare sequence. IR Flares have a longer recharge time in Battlefield 4 than in Battlefield 3.

Reload time is indicated on the Heads-Up-Display (HUD) of the aircraft cockpit. It takes up to 15 seconds for the counter measure to recharge per use.

Patch Notes[]

  • During the Battlefield 4: Community Operations update, The IR Flares were made to be more reliable, with a reduced reload time to allow aircraft to get back into combat faster, pop more flares to increase duration of protection slightly. This was an issue for jets, as they popped flares only once and could be relocked almost right away previously.

Gallery[]


Battlefield Hardline[]

"Infrared flare launchers that, when deployed, disrupts incoming missiles and breaks lock-ons"

— Battlelog Description

IR Flares are a specialization featured in Battlefield Hardline.

References[]

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