Decoy flares are dispensed from launching mechanisms on aircraft. They are fired during evasion tactics when threatened by enemy heat-seeking missiles. The Mk 46 Mod 1C decoy flare is loaded into and launched from the AN/ALE-29A, AN/ALE-37A, or AN/ALE-39 Dispensing Set for purposes as set forth in Confidential NAVAIR 11-15-4. The decoy flare consists of a cylindrical aluminum case about 5.8 inches long and 1.42 inches in diameter. The base end of the flare is flanged to a maximum diameter of 1.495 inches to fit the counterbore in the chamber of the dispenser. There are 30 such chambers in each AN/ALE-29A, 60 in each AN/ALE-39, and 240 in each AN/ALE-37A Dispenser. The end of the flare case opposite the flanged base is closed with an aluminum closure disk. When properly installed in the chamber of a dispenser, the cartridge retainer fits snugly over and around the firing end of a corresponding Mk 131 or CCU-63/B impulse cartridge. When the cartridge is fired, gas pressure causes the hammer to move into the adapter, locking the adapter and the piston together. Gases from the fired cartridge expand to exert a pushing force against the piston. This removes the closure disk and ejects the flare grain. As the piston strikes the piston stop, the adapter to which the pull wire is firmly attached separates from the igniter cup. Then, the adapter travels with the flare grain. This action causes the igniter to move over the friction material on the crinkled end of the pull wire, igniting the ignition composition. Flame flashes through the longitudinal hole in the flare grain and ignites the first-fire composition in both the longitudinal hole and the cross-hole. The first-fire composition ignites the flare grain on all surfaces. The segmented adapter renders the flare safe during normal handling operations. If the closure disk is accidentally displaced the entire grain and the igniter assembly slips out of the flare case without igniting. The device arms only after an impulse cartridge is fired and bends the sharpened edges of the adapter so it is locked to the piston.