China is working on a new generation of military decoys: inflatable replicas of weapon systems that are not only visually convincing but also produce a realistic heat signature. They are meant to fool satellites, drones and even precision weapons that rely on infrared detection.
Footage from Chinese media shows large inflatable models of tanks, missile launchers and air defence systems, among others. These objects can be inflated quickly and, from a distance, look very much like real military vehicles. Thanks to built-in heating elements or other heat sources, they also give off an infrared image that resembles that of an operational weapon system.
That makes it harder for enemy sensors to tell real targets from fake ones.
More than just visual deception
Traditional military decoys have existed for decades. During the Second World War, for example, wooden tanks and fake aircraft were used to confuse enemy reconnaissance.
The new generation of decoys goes a step further. Modern weapons and drones often use several sensors at once: optical cameras, radar and infrared. A visually convincing object alone is therefore often no longer enough.
By also giving off heat, the Chinese decoys can fool sensors that look for the infrared profile of a vehicle or missile system. For many precision weapons, that is an important target recognition signal.
If a missile or drone detects a heat source that looks like a tank or radar installation, the system may decide to aim at it.
Rapid deployment on the battlefield
A major advantage of inflatable decoys is that they are extremely light and compact to transport. They can be carried folded up and set up within minutes.
This means they can be placed quickly around important military installations or along a front line.
The goal is simple: make the enemy waste munitions on fake targets. If an expensive missile or attack drone hits an inflatable tank instead of a real vehicle, that is a major tactical advantage.
In modern conflicts, where precision weapons often cost hundreds of thousands of euros each, that can be a very effective strategy.
Many countries use similar systems
China is certainly not the only country investing in this kind of deception technology. Western countries also use inflatable decoys to confuse enemy sensors.
The Czech company Inflatech, for example, has been producing inflatable replicas of tanks, artillery systems, radar installations and air defence systems for years. These are used for training and deception, among other things.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there has been great interest in such decoys. Ukraine uses them to make Russian drones and missiles attack fake targets instead of real military systems.
This helps protect valuable assets such as air defence systems or artillery.
Dutch companies involved too
The Netherlands also has expertise in military deception and camouflage. Dutch companies supply various military simulation and camouflage solutions, including systems that can mimic heat or radar signatures.
Such technology can be used to make vehicles or installations look more realistic to enemy sensors. Combined with decoys, it can increase the chance that an attack hits the wrong target.
For Ukraine, which is regularly attacked with drones, missiles and glide bombs, this kind of deception technology can play an important role in protecting scarce military assets.
Deception remains a key part of modern warfare
The development of inflatable decoys with a heat signature shows that deception still plays a crucial role in modern warfare. As sensors become more advanced, armies keep looking for ways to fool them.
By creating fake targets that are believable both visually and thermally, countries can try to send enemy drones, satellites and precision weapons down the wrong path.
At a time when drones and sensor-guided weapons are used on a massive scale, a relatively simple inflatable tank can sometimes prove surprisingly effective.
