Context: In contemporary warfare, as jets, tanks, and warships have become more sophisticated; the methods used to shield them from detection and attack have greatly evolved. Decoys have emerged as vital tools to protect assets through deception.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims & Mains: Decoys - working, applications, examples; Role of Decoys in Contemporary warfare.
What are Decoys ?
- A decoy in warfare is a deliberately created false target (physical or electronic) that imitates real military assets with the objective of misleading enemy sensors and weapons, thereby protecting actual platforms, wasting adversary munitions, and buying time for counteraction.
Types of Decoys in Modern Warfare
- Airborne Decoys:
- Fibre-Optic Towed Decoys (FOTD): E.g., Rafael’s X-Guard, Raytheon’s AN/ALE-50/55.
- Expendable Active Decoys (EAD): E.g., Leonardo’s BriteCloud, that imitate aircraft signatures.
- Stand-in Decoys: E.g., US MALD series, acting as mini-jammers or fake aircraft.
- Land-Based Decoys: Inflatable tanks, artillery, or missile batteries with radar/thermal emissions. E.g., Russia’s Inflatech, Ukraine’s wooden/3D-printed systems, US Army’s fake vehicles.
- Naval Decoys: Chaff, acoustic emitters, and self-propelled active decoys. E.g.,
- Nulka (Australia-US), mimicking large vessels to mislead anti-ship missiles.
- India: Kavach (chaff decoy) & Maareech (anti-torpedo system).
India’s Deployment of Decoys
- X-Guard Fibre-Optic Towed Decoy (FOTD):
- During Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force reportedly deployed the X-Guard Fibre-Optic Towed Decoy (FOTD) on its Rafale jets.
- These decoys are believed to have misled Pakistan’s J-10C fighters and their PL-15E beyond-visual-range missiles, resulting in false kill claims by the adversary.
- Integrated with the SPECTRA Electronic Warfare (EW) suite, the X-Guard provided an additional protective layer, enhancing the survivability of Rafales.
- Following the operation, the Ministry of Defence began fast-tracking the emergency procurement of additional X-Guard units to strengthen the Air Force’s defensive capabilities.
- T-90 Tank Decoys: In 2025, the Indian Army issued a Request for Information (RFI) to domestic vendors for the development of T-90 tank decoys. These decoys are required to replicate not only the physical dimensions but also the thermal and acoustic signatures of real tanks.
- Kavach Decoy System: Indian Navy has inducted the Kavach decoy system, designed to protect warships by diverting radar-guided anti-ship missiles.
- Maareech Advanced Torpedo Defence System (ATDS): Indian Navy has also operationalised the Maareech Advanced Torpedo Defence System (ATDS), jointly developed by DRDO and BEL, which detects incoming torpedoes and deploys decoys to neutralise them effectively.
Role of Decoys in Contemporary Warfare:
- Protection of High-Value Assets: Decoys act as the first line of defence for expensive platforms like fighter jets, tanks, and warships. E.g., Indian Air Force reportedly used X-Guard Fibre-Optic Towed Decoys on Rafales during Operation Sindoor to protect jets from Pakistan’s J-10C fighters and PL-15E missiles.
- Confusing and Misleading Enemy Sensors: They replicate radar, thermal, and acoustic signatures to misguide surveillance and targeting systems. E.g., X-Guard mimics a Rafale’s radar cross-section and Doppler velocity, making it hard for missiles to distinguish between real and fake targets.
- Wastage of Enemy Munitions: By drawing enemy fire onto false targets, decoys force adversaries to expend costly missiles and bombs. E.g., Ukraine has used wooden and 3D-printed decoys of artillery and missile systems to make Russia waste drones and precision strikes.
- Buying Time for Counteraction: Decoys delay enemy decision-making and create windows for evasion or retaliation. E.g., In naval warfare, Australia-US Nulka active decoy draws incoming missiles away from warships, giving them time to maneuver or launch countermeasures.
- Force Multiplication in Ground Warfare: Ground decoys simulate massed formations, creating the illusion of greater strength. E.g., Russia’s Inflatech decoys can quickly create fake tank or artillery formations; Indian Army in 2025 issued an RFI for T-90 tank decoys with thermal and acoustic signatures to deceive drones.
- Multi-Layered Defence Systems: Decoys work in tandem with Electronic Warfare (EW) suites to form a layered shield. E.g.,
- On Rafales, SPECTRA EW suite + X-Guard FOTD together provide both onboard jamming and an external trailing shield.
- Indian Navy’s Kavach chaff system and Maareech ATDS provide similar protection against radar-guided missiles and torpedoes.
- Psychological and Strategic Impact: Decoys undermine the enemy’s confidence in their own sensors and kill claims, adding to the fog of war.
Decoys, across air, land, and sea, have become indispensable to modern war fighting. For a relatively low investment, they deliver high-impact protection.