My favourite quote :
Instead of chaff, lighted flares are dropped by an aircraft; their intense heat drawing the missile off course and into a mid-air explosion.
That's fine for the military, but in built-up areas around airports there would inevitably be strong opposition to the use of flares which may be a fire hazard when they land.
So which is preferable - a small flare, or a large burning aircraft ? Answers on a post stamp, please . . .