Northrop Grumman will manufacture high-performance MJU-73/B and MJU-62A/B infrared countermeasures (Flare) for the US Air Force.

Next-generation flares were developed to deceive next-generation advanced air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles.

Charlie Precourt, Vice President of Propulsion Systems at Northrop Grumman, said the newly developed countermeasure fireballs mimic the heat signature of aircraft to deceive infrared missiles.

The MJU-73/B and MJU-62A/B flares have been used for over 50 years to protect air crews from the risk of infrared missiles.

Flares are subject to various updates with the development of missile technology and guidance algorithms.