Infrared countermeasures are devices designed to protect aircraft from heat-seeking missiles, utilizing infrared homing technologies, by confusing the infrared guidance System of the missiles SO that they will miss their target.

Infrared countermeasures attempts to create an even better infrared target than the target aircraft, diverting the missile. A strong Source of infrared Energy is modulated and when seen by a missile seeker, it overwhelms the modulated signal coming from the the aircraft and provides incorrect steering cues to the missile. The missile will begin to deviate from the target, rapidly breaking lock and rarely reacquire the target.