Ukraine’s deceptive tactic: miniature Leopard 2 ‘fake tanks’ in use for misdirection

2 November, 2023 A layout of a Leopard 2A6 tank and a Foden 8x6 Multilift truck. Autumn 2023. Ukraine.

Photo credits: Yuriy Biriukov To deceive Russian intelligence, the Ukrainian troops use mock-ups of Leopard 2 tanks. Photos of such 'tanks' were published by Ukrainian volunteer Yuriy Biriukov.

The mock-ups are mainly similar to Leopard 2A6 tanks, but on a smaller scale than the original. They are transported by Foden 8x6 Multilift trucks. The Foden 8x6 Multilift easily loads and transports armored vehicles that are up to 7 meters long and weigh up to 18 tons.

A layout of a Leopard 2A6 tank and a Foden 8x6 Multilift truck.

Autumn 2023. Ukraine. Photo credits: Yuriy Biriukov

Tank mock-ups to mislead air reconnaissance aircraft have been used in Russo-Ukranian war for a long time.

The Russians use either inflatable or frame mock-ups with fabric or other material stretched on the frames. They have the same appearance and dimensions as a real tank. Usually, there are no tracks on the ground near these decoys.

Although it is worth noting that sometimes Russians artificially create such tracks on the ground to make things look more realistic.

Two layouts of Russian tanks in Ukraine. September 2023. Frame from Telegram/Khorne Group video

In May 2023, the Czech company Inflatech announced that its inflatable fake Leopard 2A4 tank targets were being shipped to Ukraine.

Inflatech's Leopard 2A4 decoy weighs 44 kg. The decoys can be inflated using a four-stroke gasoline or diesel engine, and it takes two people 10 minutes to deploy or pack them.

Inflatable layouts of the Leopard 2A4 tank by Inflatech.

Photo credits: militaeraktuell.at

To deceive enemy radars, flexible radio reflectors and a special radio-reflective film are used.