Complete Deception: Tricks Used on the Front Lines

The military deploys inflatable decoys of equipment to deceive enemy intelligence

Heavy armored vehicles on the battlefield have become convenient and easy targets for kamikaze drones and high-precision missiles. To deceive enemy intelligence and "spend" expensive missiles, the military has begun using inflatable models of tanks, MLRS, artillery, and other weapons.

The effectiveness of camouflage as an element of deceiving the enemy has always been highly valued in all conflicts. It is enough to recall the case of the Trojan horse, which the cunning Odysseus invented during the war between the Trojans and the Danaans at the turn of the 13th-12th centuries BC. Then, 50 of the best warriors hid inside a huge wooden horse, who under the cover of night killed the guard, opened the city gates, and let in their comrades, after which they seized Troy.

For example, during the USSR, enterprises were built that produced thousands of plywood and inflatable models of tanks and aircraft.

Note that the price of one high-precision missile is hundreds of thousands of dollars, while one inflatable tank costs about 200 dollars.

Camouflage in Modern Conditions

The task of any camouflage organizer is to maximize the number of imitating "dummies" in order to reduce the likelihood of hitting real objects.

It is worth saying that inflatable models of military equipment have been "in service" in the Armed Forces of Russia since 2021. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation back in 2015 purchased models of T-72 tanks, MiG-31 and Su-27 aircraft, the Iskander-M missile system and the Buk anti-aircraft missile system.

According to the main manufacturer of such products, the company "Rusbal", inflatable equipment looks realistic from a distance of 100-280 meters. Moreover, in addition to appearance, the "rubber bands" are capable of creating infrared radiation and emitting a natural noise similar to the original. Moreover, as a bonus to the rubber tracked vehicles, a device for creating false tracks on the ground is attached.

Military Trickery

However, even with the most plausible inflatable model of military equipment, it is necessary to handle it like real "iron". Otherwise, constantly improving intelligence means will easily calculate it.

You can deceive the enemy, but not for long. The enemy checks objects not only for infrared radiation, but also for radio signals. For example, in a real tank unit, communication always occurs on radio frequencies. This is excluded between inflatable tanks.

Alexander Artamonov, military expert