Ukrainians deploy wooden F‑16 decoys to outsmart drones
Ukrainians have started creating wooden models of F-16 aircraft, which can deceive even a drone pilot with a high-quality camera. We explain how they are made and why they are important.
One of the elements of war that is tightly connected to it is the art of deceiving the enemy through the use of mock-ups and feigned actions. With technological advancements, new ways of confusing the enemy have emerged, yet mock-ups remain one of the oldest methods.
Ukraine utilizes virtually anything available, from U.S.-acquired non-flight-worthy F-16A ADF aircraft shells to inflatable models from companies like the Czech INFLATECH, and even remarkable wooden replicas that closely resemble the original systems. The following pictures showcase the creation of a model from this latter category.
Models in warfare — a highly valuable tool for both sides
The war in Ukraine has demonstrated that wooden models, which faithfully reproduce targets, can be extremely useful. The Russians largely rely on drones equipped with day cameras, making these types of models quite effective. Examples include realistic models of the IRIS-T SLM system and AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radar, as well as the mentioned F-16 aircraft models.
While it requires considerable effort to place and reposition them from time to time, if these models attract an Iskander-M ballistic missile, they have served their purpose. The Russians do not have many of these missiles, and they are used to attack targets of very high importance, including F-16 aircraft. Moreover, Ukrainians have very limited means of defense against Iskanders.
Additionally, Ukrainians can add items like fuel barrels to the models to enhance Russians' perception of a successful attack in case of a hit. This tactic explains why Russian reports often claim the destruction of more M142 HIMARS systems than were delivered to Ukraine.
