Russia discovers the wreckage of a U.S.-made decoy: tactical purpose and technical analysis Recently, the Russian military accidentally discovered the wreckage of a U.S.-made ADM-160 miniature air-launched decoy (MALD) on the battlefield, a discovery that attracted widespread attention. The wreckage was discovered by the Russian military after Ukraine used Storm Shadow and Scarp-EG cruise missiles to attack targets.
The discovery is considered a new tactic adopted by Ukraine to confuse the adversary's radar system by creating false targets. This is not the first time that the remains of such a decoy have been found, as it happened in May last year, but the discovery is much more intact and provides a valuable opportunity for Russia to study its structure and function. This inducement is not innovative.
Recall that in the 80s of the last century, the Israeli Air Force used a similar tactic when carrying out air strikes on Syria. They invested a large number of BQM-74 target aircraft to confuse the Syrian air defense radar, successfully diverted the anti-aircraft fire to the wrong position, and finally destroyed the enemy's defenses with precision. This historical event proves the effectiveness of self-propelled decoys in modern air strike operations.
The ADM-160 Mald decoy boasts some impressive features on its own. Not only does it have a range of up to 965 kilometers, but it is also lightweight, portable, and has an excellent ability to imitate the signals of various types of aircraft. In addition, it carries an active electronic warfare payload and is capable of direct jamming of enemy radar systems. These attributes make the ADM-160 stand out from other devices in its class.
It is worth noting that the ADM-160 miniature air-launched decoy project is part of a secret cooperation between the United States and Ukraine and is not included in the list of public assistance, so the exact number of deliveries and the details of the model become a mystery. Despite the fact that the model passed on to Ukraine may not be the latest, it is still of great value for Russia.
This incident, as well as the analysis of its associated background, shows that the methods of psychological warfare and deception in modern military-technical centers are becoming more and more sophisticated and sophisticated. This report not only shows the ADM-160 decoy in action, but also provides an in-depth analysis of its technical details and tactical value.