A photographer managed to get a photo of the AN/ALE-47 heat trap shot on an F/A-18D Hornet fighter

You have probably seen images of the operation of heat traps that protect planes and helicopters from missiles. Such images are not uncommon. However, photographer @stella991214 managed to get a very unusual shot.

Here's What We Know

The photographer's lens caught the moment of launching a heat trap on an F/A-18D Hornet fighter jet. The two-seat aircraft belongs to the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The location and timing of the footage is not specified.

The F/A-18 is equipped with the AN/ALE-47 threat countermeasures system, which is capable of operating in fully automatic mode. It independently decides which defences to apply and in what order.

If desired, the pilot can activate the semi-automatic mode of operation. In this case, the system offers countermeasures, and the final choice is made by pilots.

Source: The War Zone