Ukraine and Russia increasingly using advanced tank decoys – Forbes
Photo: decoys are used to deceive enemy drones and protect real equipment (wikimedia.org)
Dummy tanks have been used in wars for nearly a century. However, Ukraine and Russia have taken their use to a new level, significantly improving the design and effectiveness of decoys, Forbes reports.
"Both Ukraine and Russia have expanded their usage of decoys to include inflatable models. Recent footage from a Ukrainian drone shows it investigating what appears to be a group of Russian T-72 tanks, only to reveal they are inflatable decoys. While convincing from a distance, the drone's closer inspection exposes their rounded corners and lack of detail," the report says.
It is also reported that Ukraine has deployed inflatable tanks. Notably, the Czech company InflaTech revealed last year that it had supplied inflatable Leopard 2A4 tank decoys to Ukraine and offers a variety of similar systems used by Ukrainian forces.
Advancements in military decoys
Forbes notes that the complexity of decoy equipment on the battlefields of Russia and Ukraine varies significantly. At the most basic level, decoys are constructed using a wooden frame covered with thick canvas. While these improvised models cannot withstand close inspection, they are capable of deceiving reconnaissance drones. However, modern imaging technology can easily detect these primitive fakes, making them less effective.
At the same time, both Russia and Ukraine employ more sophisticated and convincing decoys on the battlefield. Recent images on social media have shown Ukrainian replicas of the Leopard 2A6 tank made from solid wooden panels that accurately replicate the tank’s dimensions and shape. According to social media reports, Russian forces have wasted several Lancet munitions to destroy each of these decoys.
The news agency highlights that the widespread use of tank decoys is a response to the extensive deployment of drone technologies. Both Russia and Ukraine have begun utilizing armored vehicle decoys to mislead enemy drones, forcing the adversary to expend resources while protecting its real vehicles.
It is worth noting that the company Metinvest has been producing military decoys for the Ukrainian Armed Forces for several years. These decoys are designed to closely resemble real weapons and are used to draw enemy fire away from actual military equipment.
The most in-demand decoys on the front lines are replicas of Soviet-era howitzers and radar systems. However, at the request of the military, the company also produces pseudo-HIMARS — fake versions of the American multiple launch rocket system.
