Russians continue to draw aircraft at airfields

27 October, 2023 Painted MiG-31 next to real ones. Source: MT Anderson. The Russians continue to draw silhouettes of fighter jets on the airfield pavement.

The satellite images showing such drawings were posted by MT Anderson on Twitter. The images of the Belbek airfield, dated October 26, show four painted silhouettes of MiG-31s with real aircraft next to them. When comparing a real and a drawn aircraft, one immediately notices the lack of shadows and volume.

Russian propagandist Ilya Tumanov (Fighterbomber) has already stated that this practice is ineffective. He also mentioned the ineffective practice of protecting and camouflaging aircraft with car tires and mattresses.

Photo of Tu-95MS strategic bombers at the Engels air base. Photo credits: Planet Labs.

"Practice has expectedly confirmed the scientific findings that the patterns, tires, and mattresses on aircraft serve only one purpose.

To lose personnel," Tumanov said. He added that such means are ineffective against optical reconnaissance satellites and drones. It is worth noting that such drawings weaknesses can also be seen when observing the airport by radar reconnaissance satellites, which are also used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Militarnyi has repeatedly reported on the drawings of various aircraft at Russian airfields.

An image of a fighter jet painted on the parking lot. Source: Brady Africk.

For example, on October 1, it was reported that Russians drew Tu-95MS turboprop-powered strategic bombers at the Engels Air Base. At the end of July, satellite imagery was used to record the drawings of fighter jets resembling aircraft manufactured by Sukhoi.

The drawings were applied over the course of several months at the air base in Yeysk.