Munitions

M-206 infrared decoy flare

Also known as
  • M206
  • M-206 flare
  • M206 flare
  • M206 infrared decoy flare
  • M206 IR decoy flare
  • M-206 infrared flare

The M-206 infrared decoy flare is a one-inch U.S. aircraft countermeasure round built by Armtec and Kilgore for standard dispenser systems, with documented OIF/OEF demand as part of aircraft self-protection against heat-seeking missiles.

M-206 infrared decoy flare, Infrared decoy flare, Munitions
Image source: Infrared Flares | Armtec Defense Technologies

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Specifications

Diameter
1 in (25.4 mm)
Length
8 in (203.2 mm)
Weight
187 g
Net explosive content
121 g
Shelf life
9 years
Service life
1 year
NSN
1370-01-048-2138
Dispenser context
Standard U.S. and NATO aircraft countermeasure dispensers
Carrier Aircraft And Dispensers

Official sources identify the M-206 in aircraft countermeasure dispenser contexts rather than as a standalone weapon; the links below point only to cataloged aircraft with direct source support in this record.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
A-10 Thunderbolt II, Close air support attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsA-10 Thunderbolt IIClose air support aircraft

The FY2016 Air Force flares budget lists the M206 flare among countermeasure rounds used with A-10 aircraft.

Sources: FY2016 Air Force Flares Budget

AC-130 gunship, Heavily armed fixed-wing gunship, Aircraft & UAVsAC-130 gunshipGunship aircraft

The FY2016 Air Force flares budget lists the M206 flare among countermeasure rounds used with AC-130 aircraft.

Sources: FY2016 Air Force Flares Budget

F-16 Fighting Falcon, Multirole fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsF-16 Fighting FalconMultirole fighter

The FY2016 Air Force flares budget lists the M206 flare among countermeasure rounds used with F-16 aircraft.

Sources: FY2016 Air Force Flares Budget

HC-130J Combat King II, Fixed-wing personnel recovery and helicopter air-to-air refueling aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsHC-130J Combat King IIFixed-wing personnel recovery aircraft

Kirtland AFB's environmental assessment names M-206 flares as current countermeasure stores used by HC-130J aircraft.

Sources: Kirtland AFB Final EA, Part 2

CH-47 Chinook helicopter, Heavy-lift transport helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsCH-47 Chinook helicopterHeavy-lift helicopter

Army AL&T documented CMWS fielding and M206 flare loading in the OIF rotary-wing context, including a CH-47D mission caption.

Sources: Army AL&T Countermeasure Flares Team

Dispenser context

Armtec describes the M-206 as a flare for standard U.S. and NATO dispenser systems, while Army AL&T describes CMWS as firing a mix of M206, M211, and M212 flares in response to missile threats.

Sources: M206 Infrared Decoy Flare | Armtec Defense Technologies, Army AL&T Countermeasure Flares Team

Countermeasure Use Context

The M-206 is best understood as part of an aircraft defensive-aids chain: missile-warning or crew cueing, an aircraft dispenser, and a flare program intended to draw an infrared seeker away from the aircraft.

ContextSourced detailSources
Dispenser roleArmtec identifies the M-206 as an infrared decoy flare compatible with standard U.S. and NATO dispenser systems.M206 Infrared Decoy Flare | Armtec Defense Technologies
Combat demandArmy AL&T tied M206, M211, and M212 flare demand to OEF/OIF aircraft countermeasure use and CMWS fielding in theater.Army AL&T Countermeasure Flares Team
Carrier examplesAir Force procurement tables list M206 applications for A-10, AC-130, C-17, and F-16 aircraft; Kirtland AFB lists M-206 as an HC-130J current store.FY2016 Air Force Flares Budget; Kirtland AFB Final EA, Part 2
Timeline

M-206 infrared decoy flare Key Events

  1. OIF and OEF flare demand grows

    Army AL&T described OEF/OIF countermeasure-flare expenditure as a major driver for increased M211, M212, and M206 monthly requirements.

    Sources: Army AL&T Countermeasure Flares Team

  2. Air Force GWOT replenishment line item

    The Air Force FY2008 GWOT budget listed M206 flares to replenish inventories expended during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

    Sources: FY2008 Air Force GWOT M206 Flares

  3. Air Force aircraft applications listed

    The FY2016 Air Force procurement justification listed M206 flare applications for A-10, AC-130, C-17, and F-16 aircraft.

    Sources: FY2016 Air Force Flares Budget

  4. HC-130J current stores documented

    Kirtland AFB's environmental assessment identified M-206 flares as current countermeasure stores used by HC-130J aircraft.

    Sources: Kirtland AFB Final EA, Part 2

Related Weapon Systems
AN/ALE-50 towed decoy, Towed decoy countermeasure, Electronic WarfareElectronic WarfareAN/ALE-50 towed decoyTowed decoy countermeasureThe AN/ALE-50 is a Raytheon airborne towed decoy countermeasure developed from Naval Research Laboratory work to draw radar-guided missiles away from combat aircraft. It entered production in December 1996, pairs a launcher/controller installation with expendable decoy canisters, and is documented on F-16, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and B-1B aircraft as a compact radio-frequency self-protection system used from Kosovo and Iraq to later U.S. air operations.
Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM), Infrared countermeasure defensive suite, Support EquipmentSupport EquipmentLarge Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM)Infrared countermeasure defensive suiteLarge Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM), designated AN/AAQ-24(V), is Northrop Grumman's laser-based directional infrared countermeasure suite for large fixed-wing aircraft and selected rotary-wing platforms. U.S. Navy and test sources describe a platform-tailored system that detects, tracks, and jams infrared missile threats with missile-warning sensors, processors, cockpit controls, and laser transmitter assemblies; DoN LAIRCM was fielded on Marine Corps CH-53E helicopters in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
HC-130J Combat King II, Fixed-wing personnel recovery and helicopter air-to-air refueling aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsHC-130J Combat King IIFixed-wing personnel recovery and helicopter air-to-air refueling aircraftThe HC-130J Combat King II is Lockheed Martin's C-130J-derived U.S. Air Force rescue and helicopter-refueling aircraft. Developed under the HC/MC-130 recapitalization program, it replaced the HC-130P/N King as the service's only dedicated fixed-wing personnel recovery platform, with night-vision-compatible systems, defensive aids, forward-looking infrared, radar and missile-warning receivers, UARRSI aerial-refueling reception, and mission communications for combat search-and-rescue, disaster response, emergency aeromedical evacuation, airdrop, airland, and forward-area refueling work.
Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile, Ship self-defense missile, MunitionsMunitionsEvolved Sea Sparrow MissileShip self-defense missileThe Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile is a NATO-cooperative ship self-defense missile family built by Raytheon for surface combatants and carrier self-defense. U.S. Navy, RTX, and NATO Seasparrow sources describe it as a medium-range guided weapon for anti-ship cruise missiles, aircraft, drones, and maneuvering surface threats; documented combat use includes USS Mason's 2016 Yemen self-defense engagement and Red Sea crisis firings against Houthi threats.
BM/KG300G electronic countermeasures system, Airborne ECM pod, Electronic WarfareElectronic WarfareBM/KG300G electronic countermeasures systemAirborne ECM podThe BM/KG300G is a Chinese airborne self-protection jamming pod family for external carriage on combat aircraft, with public sources describing I/J-band radar jamming, automatic countermeasure selection, and integration with radar-warning and dispenser subsystems. The baseline pod is associated with CEIEC/CETC and SWIEE/SIWEE reporting, while 2024 coverage showed a smaller rotary-wing form on a Z-10 and compact pods on an FH-95 UAV.

Sources

Infrared Flares | Armtec Defense TechnologiesPublisher: Armtec Defense Technologies | Note: Supports manufacturer background, the M-206 product family, and the official product image used for this page. | Accessed: 2026-06-29M206 Infrared Decoy Flare | Armtec Defense TechnologiesPublisher: Armtec Defense Technologies | Note: Supports the M-206 designation, infrared decoy flare role, dimensions, weight, net explosive content, shelf life, service life, NSN, and product background. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Army AL&T Countermeasure Flares TeamPublisher: U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center | Note: Documents M206, M211, and M212 countermeasure flares used by U.S. forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, supporting 2003 Iraq War and 2001 War in Afghanistan conflict-use rows, CMWS context, and CH-47D rotary-wing carriage context. | Accessed: 2026-06-29FY2008 Air Force GWOT M206 FlaresPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Documents M206 flares replenished after being used by U.S. forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, supporting 2003 Iraq War and 2001 War in Afghanistan conflict-use rows. | Accessed: 2026-06-29FY2016 Air Force Flares BudgetPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports M206 unit-cost context, Kilgore and Armtec manufacturer context, and listed Air Force aircraft applications including A-10, AC-130, C-17, and F-16. | Accessed: 2026-06-29FY2012 Air Force Flares BudgetPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports the reported M-206 flare unit cost in the FY2012 Air Force budget line item. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Kirtland AFB Final EA, Part 2Publisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports the M-206 flares carried by HC-130J aircraft as current countermeasure stores in the Kirtland AFB environmental assessment. | Accessed: 2026-06-29