This is what happens when C-17s airlifters release flares during night formation flying

David Cenciotti
1 Min Read

U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III tactical airlifters pyrotechnic show

Filmed near Anchorage as part of Large Package Week, formerly known as Jump Week the video shows U.S. C-17 cargo planes during a night airdrop mission.

Noteworthy, the airplanes released the Globemasters released flares, high-temperature heat sources used to mislead surface-to-air or air-to-air missile’s heat-seeking targeting systems, creating the pyrotechnic visual effect you can see behind each plane.

Such countermeasures are against MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defense Systems) and IR guided surface-to-air missiles.

C-17s have been involved in night airdrop missions over Iraq.

H/T Matt Fanning for sending the link over

 

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David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.
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