Russia has been using a tactic of painting fake planes on the tarmac of its military airports in order to deceive Ukrainian drones. This tactic involves creating outlines of aircraft on the ground that imitate fighter jets and bombers, such as the Sukhoi and Tu-95. These fake planes were targeted by Ukrainian drone swarms on April 5, resulting in reported damage to Russian aircraft. It is unclear whether actual jets were hit or if it was just the painted outlines that were damaged.
Satellite images have captured these deceptive tactics at various Russian military bases, including the Yeysk and Engels-2 air bases. Images show the painted outlines of Su-34 and Tu-95 aircraft on the tarmac. The use of these dummies is part of the Russian military doctrine of “Maskirovka”, which aims to mislead the enemy about intentions and capabilities.
While painting fake planes on runways may not be foolproof, it is a cost-effective way for Russia to try and confuse their adversaries. This tactic is not unique to Russia, as the Ukrainian military also employs deception tactics such as using wooden replicas and inflatable targets.
Historically, strategic deception has played a significant role in military operations, with examples like Operation Fortitude during World War II using dummy tanks and aircraft to mislead the enemy. In today’s digital age, satellite imagery plays a crucial role in detecting such deceptions, but on-the-ground reality can still be manipulated through clever tactics.