Ukrainian F-16 decoy emerges at defence show
A Czech company has unveiled an inflatable decoy of the F-16 fighter, notably wearing Ukrainian Air Force markings. The inflatable fighter, from a firm that is already known to be providing Kyiv with decoys of other items of military equipment, appears only a matter of weeks after it was confirmed that the first real F-16s had arrived in Ukraine. PHOTO:The War Zone
A Czech company has introduced an inflatable decoy of the F-16 fighter jet, marked with Ukrainian Air Force insignia. This new decoy, produced by Inflatech, was displayed at the Industry Days defense exhibition in Denmark.
The unveiling comes shortly after the arrival of the first real F-16s in Ukraine.
The decoy features a full-scale replica, including a transparent cockpit and wingtip stores.
It’s unclear if these decoys will be sent to Ukraine or if the Ukrainian markings are intended to attract interest.
Inflatech, known for its wide range of inflatable military decoys, has reported increased demand amid the Ukraine conflict.
The company’s offerings include decoys for tanks, armored vehicles, and various aircraft, such as the Russian Su-27 and the US UH-60 Black Hawk.
Inflatech's business has surged by over 30% since the start of the conflict, with continued growth expected.
Recent reports suggest that some military equipment reportedly destroyed might have been inflatable decoys, though these claims are not independently verified.