The Estonian Centre for Defence Investments has announced a procurement process for military decoys, allocating a budget of $10 million.
Increasing in Popularity
While specific details about the type of decoys are yet to be disclosed, inflatable models have become increasingly popular due to their rapid deployment capabilities.
It’s speculated that Estonia may be looking to acquire decoys resembling the M142 HIMARS systems, which have proven vital in Ukraine by protecting actual units from enemy fire, according to WP.
Modern inflatable decoys, such as those from Czech company INFLATECH, can effectively deceive not only standard drone cameras but also thermal imaging systems and radars. This level of sophistication often surpasses traditional wooden decoys, making them invaluable in military strategy.
Mimicks Thermal and Radar Signatures
For example, deploying a decoy worth approximately $25,000 can force adversaries to expend precious ballistic missiles like the Iskander-M or their North Korean equivalents to target what they perceive as a real threat.
INFLATECH’s expertise lies in mimicking genuine thermal and radar signatures. Their decoys can replicate high-profile military assets, including M1A1 Abrams tanks, Leopard 2A4 tanks, and F-16 fighter jets.
The thermal signature is created using electric heaters strategically placed to simulate key components like the engine and exhaust system, powered by an integrated generator.
Achieving a realistic radar signature is more challenging, likely involving a combination of metallized paint, internal metallic elements, and a radar wave emitter. According to the Czech firm, the decoy can achieve its designated signature just 90 seconds after activation.
