[Cold Heat]

Now I am not exactly sure what the can is. According to this, the rocket uses a solid fuel bump before the main motor lights. The can may be a replaceable battery or something.(or could be CO2 for other varieties of ordinance???)

[freepersup]

That "cannister" has my curiosity spiked. I found a picture at the link below, that shows a soldier pushing in on what appears to be a plunger coming out of the can, facing forward. There are also pictures of the missiles. They are nearly as long as the tube. Definitely a close call for Israel aircraft.

http://www.army.fr.pl/uzbr/sa7.php

[Leisler]

Freon, or other type gas used to "cool down" the missile eye and contrast up the target.

It's not fool proof and requires a skilled and knowledgeable operator. I once saw a Red Eye at Ft. Bliss ignore a target rocket with flares on it's tail and go down range and punch through and through an unoccupied, green Army bus.

Sometimes the proximity fuses go off too soon, or too late, or not at all. Sometimes the missile will just go right into the engine, or punch through a wing. Another thing they will do is bounce along the side of the aircraft a few times then go off.

In the US Army, it takes months of schooling to get the most out of the operator and the missile system. Somehow I picture a couple of hookah smoking semi illiterates puzzling over a old Soviet/ Egyptian manual while watching BayWatch.