Chaff and flare dispensers deceive radar- and infrared-guided weapons with cheap expendables. DIRCM (Directional Infrared Counter Measures) goes a step further: a steerable laser directionally blinds the infrared seeker of an incoming missile — including the IR-guided air-to-air missiles carried by some drones (see Chapter 2.2).
Example
DIRCM systems are now standard on several types of military transport and tanker aircraft across multiple allied fleets, and are even fitted to civilian aircraft to defeat MANPADS threats.
See the reference card DIRCM.