OVERVIEW: The KT-216 Flare is an unguided, short-range, 120 mm infrared countermeasure flare designed to decoy heat-seeking missiles away from surface combatants. It is deployed from naval decoy launchers as part of shipboard soft-kill defense suites.

DETAILS: The KT-216 system is a Russian-made decoy round family launched from the PK-10 decoy launcher, intended for disrupting incoming infrared-guided threats. The flare round uses pyrotechnic compounds to emit a strong infrared signature upon ignition, mimicking the heat of ship propulsion systems. It is fired in salvos from multiple tubes and can be integrated with onboard electronic warfare systems to provide synchronized defensive coverage. The flare is tailored to emit IR signatures over short durations to mislead incoming IR-guided munitions.

KT‑216 are used aboard Indian Navy Talwar-class frigates, which carry four PK‑10 launchers and stock 120 chaff/IR rounds

FUNCTION:
It is launched from the ship’s PK-10 launcher in programmed salvos.
Once airborne, it ignites and produces a strong infrared signature that mimics the ship's thermal profile.
This confuses IR-guided seekers and causes them to home in on the decoy instead of the ship.

SOURCE:
Rosoboronexport Product Catalogue ; Russia Naval Systems: https://roe.ru/eng/catalog/naval-systems/shipborne-electronic-warfare/pk-10/ ; Military Periscope Naval Countermeasures Systems Database