Chaff, flak, and confused missile seekers

Second World War Window demonstrates chaff's value as radar deception. Very small radar contacts may become harder to distinguish when stealth aircraft also present a small radar cross-section. Chaff or other particles could interfere physically with a cruise missile's sensors, control surfaces, or engine, especially when the missile is moving at very high speed. An early Soviet anti-ship missile is contrasted with a Zircon-type weapon: the slower, aircraft-like missile might shrug off light debris unless it struck something vital, while the faster weapon magnifies even a small impact. Combining chaff with flak could create misleading radar blooms, conceal the target, or tempt an incoming missile into an avoidance manoeuvre that consumes distance and imposes dangerous structural loads. A rapidly reacting guidance computer might also make damaging corrections to transient returns, so speed of decision may work against the weapon.