How much does an Elbow System XM 216 flare cost
Executive summary
The XM216 (SPARC3) is a modern spectral infrared “dark flare” manufactured by Elbit Systems and deployed on platforms such as MH-47 and other Western aircraft to decoy infrared-guided missiles [1] [2] [3]. Available reporting and manufacturer materials describe capabilities and compatibility but do not disclose unit pricing or sale-by-sale costs, so a definitive dollar figure cannot be produced from the supplied sources [4] [1].
1. What the XM216 is and where it’s used
Elbit Systems markets the SPARC3/XM216 as an advanced spectral IR decoy—a “one‑flare solution” designed to defeat both legacy and modern dual-band heat-seeking missiles—and the product page stresses combat-proven use on fixed‑wing and rotary platforms and compatibility with Western dispensers such as ALE‑40/47 [4] [1]. Defense reporting and program summaries mention XM‑216 “dark flares” as part of the defensive suites on MH‑47G Chinooks and other special‑operations helicopters, emphasizing that these decoys emit low visible luminance and can be effectively invisible to the naked eye while distracting IR seekers [5] [2] [3] [6].
2. What the open sources reveal about procurement and availability
Public manufacturer materials and open reporting focus on technical performance, interoperability with existing dispensers, and operational deployment rather than on price; Elbit’s product brief and web page provide specifications and claims of combat use but no cost data [4] [1]. News articles and procurement notices that reference outfitting MH‑47s list the XM‑216 among systems installed but likewise do not include per‑unit pricing or contract line items in the excerpts provided [5] [2] [6]. This pattern—technical disclosure without public pricing—is common for specialized military countermeasures in open sources.
3. Why price information is typically absent in public reporting
Specialized defense munitions and countermeasures are often sold under classified, sensitive, or negotiated government contracts where detailed unit pricing is not published in marketing literature or journalistic reporting, and public briefings prioritize capability statements over financials [4] [1]. The supplied sources illustrate that the narrative around XM‑216 centers on effectiveness against modern IR threats and platform compatibility rather than sales terms or per‑flare costs [4] [1] [3].
4. What can and cannot be concluded from the available evidence
Given the supplied reporting and Elbit documentation, it is certain that the XM216/SPARC3 exists, is in operational use, and is engineered as a low‑visible spectral IR decoy compatible with common dispensers [4] [1] [3]. What cannot be concluded from these sources is any exact price per flare, typical procurement unit costs, or retail-style pricing, because none of the provided materials contain financial figures, contract award amounts, or vendor price lists [4] [1] [2].
5. Practical next steps for anyone seeking a price
To obtain an authoritative cost figure would require accessing defense procurement contract documents, government budget line items, Freedom of Information Act disclosures where not exempt, or direct vendor contracting information—sources not present in the supplied reporting and not summarized in the manufacturer literature [4] [1] [6]. Absent those documents, any public estimate would be speculative; the supplied sources support technical description and operational context but do not allow a reliable answer to “How much does an Elbow System XM 216 flare cost.”