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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Russia Deploys a Mystery Munition in Ukraine
2022-03-15
[Political Wire] "American intelligence officials have discovered that the barrage of ballistic missiles Russia has fired into Ukraine contain a surprise: decoys that trick air-defense radars and fool heat-seeking missiles," the New York Times reports.

"The devices are each about a foot long, shaped like a dart and white with an orange tail, according to an American intelligence official. They are released by the Iskander-M short-range ballistic missiles that Russia is firing from mobile launchers across the border, the official said, when the missile senses that it has been targeted by air defense systems."

"Each is packed with electronics and produces radio signals to jam or spoof enemy radars attempting to locate the Iskander-M, and contains a heat source to attract incoming missiles."
Posted by:Besoeker

#7  In Linebacker, we jammed the heck out of the North's equipment so they started to use their missiles in barrages. Yes, they did hit stuff. Day three they were out of missiles and signaled they'd sit down again at the table in Paris.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2022-03-15 15:26  

#6  #4 Heh... "I Met a Bear," by Claude Balls
Posted by: Jack Is Back   2022-03-15 14:39  

#5  If you have enough tubes no fancy defense works. Presumably the same applies to ballistic missiles.
Posted by: Glenmore   2022-03-15 14:35  

#4  Over at ZH:

Posted by: M. Murcek   2022-03-15 14:24  

#3  Excellent question Andy. Yes, I suspect the decoy's do confuse and overwhelm defensive radar systems. A few decoys dispersed among successive missile salvos would still permit effective defensive penetration. As we know, the Russians enjoy firing artillery in successive salvos.


Posted by: Besoeker   2022-03-15 12:07  

#2  A "mystery" to some possibly. Others might recognize it as an offensive adaptation of the US AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispenser system. (C-130 in graphic deploys a buttload of countermeasure rockets)
Posted by: Besoeker   2022-03-15 11:58  

#1  But ... does it work?
Posted by: Andy Cheater5342   2022-03-15 11:56  

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