CMWS provides warning of threats and has an expendable countermeasures capability against which type of missiles?

The correct answer is that CMWS (Common Missile Warning System) provides warnings against IR-guided missiles. These missile types, particularly infrared-guided missiles, seek out heat sources—typically the exhaust of aircraft engines. CMWS employs sensors that detect those infrared signatures, allowing it to warn the aircraft crew of incoming threats.

The expendable countermeasures used by CMWS, such as flares, are specifically designed to distract the heat-seeking sensors of IR-guided missiles, thereby enhancing the survival chances of the aircraft being targeted. The role of CMWS is crucial in maintaining situational awareness and improving defensive actions against these types of threats in combat scenarios.

In contrast, the other types of missiles mentioned, such as laser-guided, ballistic, and GPS-guided missiles, use different targeting methods and guidance systems that do not rely on infrared signatures, making them less relevant regarding the capabilities offered by CMWS. Consequently, focusing on IR-guided missiles highlights CMWS's specific function and operational design within defense mechanisms for aircraft.