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Tactical decoys are dummy equipment like aircraft, radars, missile launch vehicles, armoured vehicles, bridging capabilities, artillery pieces, and installations (buildings, bridges, and runways) intended to deceive enemy observers.<\/span><\/p>\n Decoys are one of the most effective tools in deception operations. Their use has been standard in warfare since ancient times.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Usefulness<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Decoys increase the survivability of installations, units, or equipment, primarily in the face of air threat (drones, planes, helicopters) and indirect fire.<\/span><\/p>\n Decoys provide alternative targets and can therefore decrease the adversary\u2019s chance of hitting real targets.<\/span><\/p>\n Decoys cause opponents to consume ammunition, a significant effect given the cost of some ammunition and, often, the low volumes stored.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Decoys can be used to deceive the adversary, particularly aerial reconnaissance, about the number and location of weapons, units, and equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n Decoys can be used for deception with the following purpose:-<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Desired Characteristics<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n To be effective, the use of decoys should follow a few basic rules.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0A decoy must be less expensive than the equipment it simulates and require fewer materials and less time and effort to set up than the materials than the time and effort it will cost the adversary to detect or destroy it.<\/span><\/p>\n Decoy must obviously be realistic. It\u2019s not enough for the decoy to look like the object it\u2019s simulating. It also needs to \u201clook\u201d to radar or other sensors like the object, with a multispectral signature as faithful as possible to that of the simulated equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n Various devices can further strengthen the authenticity of the simulation such as lights, smoke, or even sound devices to broadcast, for example, engine noise.<\/span><\/p>\n A high-fidelity decoy is not enough. Its environment must be realistic, too. There are many factors to be consider to ensure that no clues betray the presence of decoys.<\/span><\/p>\n The camouflage of decoys\u2019 camouflage must be plausible, meaning neither too effective nor non-existent.<\/span><\/p>\n The place where decoys are deployed must be realistic, which means, especially, that it conforms to doctrine.<\/span><\/p>\n Decoys should be easy to deploy and maintain.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Challenges<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Value of deception is widely accepted, operationalizing it on the ground is not easy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The challenge is that we have entered an era of \u201cfatal visibility\u201d with detection means becoming more powerful.<\/span><\/p>\n Hyperspectral radars make it possible to detect even the nature of the materials and the classification of soils, gases, spectral anomalies, and so on.<\/span><\/p>\n In domain of the radar imagery, the use of interferometry can detect activity such as the passage of vehicles.<\/span><\/p>\n Sensors can be equipped with artificial intelligence.<\/span><\/p>\n The electromagnetic footprint of military units has increased manifold.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Types<\/u><\/strong>. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Decoys can be either basic (visual-only or do-it-yourself devices) or elaborate one. The tactical relevance of their design depends in particular on the time and equipment available to own forces and on the sensors available to the enemy.<\/span><\/p>\n With the evolution of detection systems, there is a clearly increasing need for more multispectral decoys (ones which can simulate actual visual, thermal, radar, electromagnetic, or acoustic signatures).<\/span><\/p>\n Decoys could be ones that combine the visual appearance with a thermal signature (by integrating resistors and conductive fabrics), infrared signature, or even radar signatures.<\/span><\/p>\n They can be 2D or 3D. They could be inflatable, or made of wood or metal panels. Their weight and size vary.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Providers<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n China has an advanced decoy industry, several other companies that offer these products:-<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Future<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Major trends related to future decoys are as follows:-<\/span><\/p>\n Electromagnetic signature of a decoy is essential because of the advanced sensors with electronic warfare capabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n One of the most effective deceptive courses of action is probably to reproduce the command networks of a headquarters to limit the enemy\u2019s capacities to identify and target the real headquarters.<\/span><\/p>\n By 2030 or 2040, decoys, possibly air-droppable and capable of replicating the electromagnetic signature of a headquarters or vehicles, may be common.<\/span><\/p>\n Future decoys, while traditionally fixed, may be mobile and remotely operated. Mobile robotic decoys are more useful in offensive courses of action as their mobility reinforces realism.<\/span><\/p>\n AI enabled decoy systems is another field with lot of potential. The line between decoys and combat robots is becoming blurred since robotic decoys serve both to confuse the adversary and to assault him.<\/span><\/p>\n Increasing role of aerial drones and swarms for tactical decoying is another possibility. These could be used to simulate a unit or saturate the opponent\u2019s sensors. \u00a0For example, one or more drone swarm could reproduce the electromagnetic and radar signature of a transport or attack helicopter. Drones equipped with radar reflectors, circulating on the battlefield and in the rear, could generate multiple false echoes, confusing the operational picture of an adversary.<\/span><\/p>\n Holographic decoys is another field of the future. Scientific research is making significant progress with volumetric 3D holograms and other types that emit sounds and can be \u201ctouched.\u201d In the longer term, holography would therefore be able to create convincing visual decoys.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Question<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n Are we giving enough importance and attention to decoying?<\/span><\/p>\n Suggestions and value additions are most welcome<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n For regular updates, please register here<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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