The Evolution of Deception

• Traditional battlefield trickery has merged with digital-age innovations.
• Modern decoys confuse sensors, mislead targeting systems, and waste enemy munitions.
• They are now considered as critical as firepower in warfare.

India’s Deployment of Decoys

• Operation Sindoor: IAF reportedly used X-Guard Fibre-Optic Towed Decoys (FOTD) on Rafale jets.
• These AI-enabled systems mimicked the aircraft’s radar and electronic signatures.
• Reports suggest Pakistan’s J-10C fighters misidentified decoys as real aircraft, leading to wasted missile strikes.
• The IAF is now procuring more X-Guard units via emergency routes.

How FOTD Works

• Lightweight (30 kg), retractable, reusable.
• Mimics Rafale’s Radar Cross-Section, doppler velocity, and spectral signature.
• Provides 360° jamming capability when integrated with Rafale’s SPECTRA EW suite.
• Creates a multi-layered shield: onboard countermeasures + trailing decoy.

Comparable Global Systems

• BriteCloud (Leonardo UL) – used by Eurofighter Typhoon, Gripen-E, F-16.
• AN/ALE-50/55 (Raytheon/BAE Systems) – used on F/A-18E/F Super Hornets.
• Adaptable to UAVs like MQ-9 Reapers.

Land-Based Decoys

• Inflatable, radar-reflective, and heat-emitting dummies simulate tanks, artillery, and missile sites.
• Ukraine: Wooden & 3D-printed decoys to deplete Russian drone/missile stocks.
• Russia: Inflatech systems simulate armoured formations.
• India: Issued RFI (April 2025) for decoys replicating T-90 tanks’ dimensions, thermal and acoustic signatures.

Naval Countermeasures

• Navies use floating chaff, acoustic decoys, and active deception systems.
• Nulka decoy (Australia-U.S.): Self-propelled, mimics large warship radar signatures to mislead missiles.
• INS Karanj features torpedo decoys and can launch marine commandos behind enemy lines.

Conclusion

Deception technologies—across air, land, and sea—are indispensable in modern warfare. For low investment, decoys offer high-impact protection, confusion, and strategic advantage.