OVERVIEW: Philax Flare is a naval infrared decoy system introduced in the late 1970s. It is intended to protect fast-attack craft by deploying infrared flares against incoming heat-seeking missiles.

DETAILS: Philax Flare was installed on vessels such as the Finnish Navy’s Rauma-class missile boats, often in conjunction with chaff dispensers. It operates using deck-mounted launchers designed to deploy infrared decoy cartridges in response to IR-guided threats. The system can function automatically when integrated with electronic support measures that detect approaching missile threats. Philax systems were gradually replaced by more advanced countermeasure suites like Rheinmetall's MASS during modernization programs in the 2010s.

FONCTION:
IR threat is detected by onboard sensors or ESM.
Decoy flare cartridges are launched from the deck-mounted system.
Infrared flares create a false heat source to divert the missile seeker.

SOURCE:
Forecast International PDF (ARC_ID 718) ; https://www.seaforces.org/marint/Finnish-Navy/Rauma-class.htm