The angel flare pattern is well known in both military circles as well as the world of photography for its stunning visuals and incredibly effective countermeasure capabilities. Dozens of flares are ejected from various points on large war planes like the AC-130 to protect the slow, sluggish planes from being hit by heat-seeking missiles.

Here are some amazing images that have come from demonstrations of this technique followed by a video.

Flying over Canada
“Flying over Canada”
Hercules Flare Drop
“Hercules flare drop”
From the frontlines in Afghanistan
“From the front lines in Afghanistan”
Lockhead AC-130 Spectre
“Lockhead AC-130 Spectre”
Protecting Two
“Protecting two”
Rear View
“Rear view”
Silhouette
“Silhouette”