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From Operation Fortitude to War in Ukraine How Decoys Remain a Strategic Asset.
In the contemporary military landscape, the use of decoys has established itself as a central element of warfare strategies, offering ingenious solutions against advanced detection technologies. While modern technology allows for the detection of an increasing number of fake targets, it has also continually driven decoy designers to innovate and refine their designs to make these deceptions more credible.
CAESAR 8x8 artillery system as a decoy by Inflatech at Eurosatory 2024 (Picture source: Army Recognition)
The example of the war in Ukraine is emblematic: facing Russian forces, the Ukrainian army has deployed sophisticated decoys capable of replicating the visual, thermal, and even electromagnetic signatures of its military equipment. These deceptions, far from being mere wartime accessories, have become force multipliers, protecting troops while destabilizing the enemy.
Historically, military deception is an ancient technique, already theorized by Sun Tzu in The Art of War and used tactically in conflicts such as World War I with the British wooden dummy tanks. However, it was during World War II that decoys took on strategic importance. Operation Fortitude, a key element of the Allied strategy before the Normandy landing, relied on inflatable tanks and fake radio transmissions to deceive the German high command about the real invasion site. This operation enabled the Allied forces to mislead the enemy and deploy German resources far from the actual combat zones, demonstrating the effectiveness of military deception to strengthen a real attack.
With advancements in reconnaissance technology, decoy sophistication has also followed an upward curve. Progress in satellite surveillance and infrared detection has necessitated the development of decoys capable of realistically simulating not only the visual appearance but also the thermal and radar characteristics of the equipment.
In the Ukrainian conflict, the use of these decoys has become crucial. Companies like Inflatech, specializing in inflatable fake weapons, and Metinvest, a producer of wooden decoys, have supplied the Ukrainian army with fake HIMARS and other military equipment. These decoys, often costing less than $1,000, force the Russian army to spend expensive munitions on fake targets, thereby preserving Ukraine's actual assets. In September 2023, for example, satellite images revealed a Russian Tu-95MS bomber painted on a Russian airbase, proof that Russia itself adopts this technique to deceive the enemy.
In September 2023, for example, satellite images revealed a Russian Tu-95MS bomber painted on a Russian airbase (Picture source: X channel Glasnost Gone)
The war in Ukraine has also revealed the psychological impact of decoys. By multiplying fake targets, the Ukrainian army imposes constant doubt on the Russian command, undermining the reliability of its intelligence services and leading to judgment errors.
False information, coupled with the use of mannequins to simulate troops in empty trenches, creates a confusing environment where real and fictitious capabilities intermingle, destabilizing the enemy. As a result, Russian troops, believing they are facing a significant number of units, may be led to disperse their forces and waste valuable resources.
Additionally, decoys allow armed forces to exploit enemy mistakes. By drawing the attention of opposing units to secondary targets, Ukrainian commanders can maneuver their real forces to surprise Russian troops in advantageous defensive positions. This asymmetric tactic compensates for Ukraine's numerical or technological disadvantage against Russia.
Indeed, for each decoy destroyed, the Russian army loses ammunition and time, which, on a large scale, creates significant logistical and financial costs. A single precision missile used on a fake target often costs tens of thousands of dollars, while the decoys themselves require only a fraction of that sum.
Inflatech decoy on Thermal radar (Picture source: Inflatech)
The role of specialized companies in decoy manufacturing also deserves attention. Inflatech, based in the Czech Republic, produces inflatable replicas that mimic tanks, armored vehicles, and even entire military infrastructures.
These decoys are sometimes equipped with emitters to reproduce the electronic signature of real targets, enabling them to resist radar or thermal detection. Other companies, like Metinvest, adapt their creations to specific terrain needs, manufacturing custom replicas from available materials such as wood or metal to make each decoy more convincing.
Military decoys have established themselves as essential elements of modern warfare, beyond advanced detection tools and cutting-edge technologies. The war in Ukraine shows that, despite advancements in surveillance, the ability to deceive the enemy remains a strategic skill, allowing forces to be preserved and inflicting economic and psychological losses on adversaries.
More than a mere tactic, military deception remains a force multiplier, adapting old methods to contemporary requirements to maximize their effectiveness on the battlefield. As future conflicts evolve, the art of deception will undoubtedly continue to play a central role in defense strategies, reminding us that human ingenuity can sometimes triumph over technological superiority.