The choice of weapons in the confrontation between Armenia and Azerbaijan: disguise as a "way of deception"
During the current conflict aviation Azerbaijan, represented by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), has a huge impact on the ground forces of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR). From the air, military equipment, weapons depots, and military units are methodically destroyed.
The NKR air defense forces cannot cope with the task of countering UAVs, and Armenia, for one reason or another, does not use the most modern air defense systems available to it, for example, the Tor-M2KM anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM). Accordingly, first of all, the question arises of increasing the survivability of ground forces in conditions of air supremacy of enemy aviation.
One of the ways to solve this problem is the "way of deception" - the active use of camouflage and false targets.
In conditions when its own air force and air defense cannot cope with gaining air superiority or at least preventing the enemy from gaining such superiority, ground forces can only rely on camouflage, which ensures the maximum reduction in the effectiveness of enemy strikes.
One of the main ways is to create a large number of decoys. UAVs are designed to use guided weapons. Despite all efforts to reduce its cost, for example, by developing kits for upgrading unguided munitions to give them the properties of high-precision weapons, the cost of weapons for UAVs still remains quite high, which limits their use.
The use of false targets forces the enemy to devote more time to identifying targets, which reduces the intensity of strikes. In addition, camouflage of real targets in combination with the use of decoys leads to an increased consumption of guided munitions while reducing losses of the attacked side.
Inflatable decoys
One of the most effective ways to create decoys is to deploy inflatable dummies that simulate military equipment.
Inflatable models of military equipment
It is difficult to distinguish an inflatable model from a real target in a combat situation. Inflatable models can be equipped with heating systems to simulate engine operation, rotating elements that simulate radar.
Inflatable models can be placed separately from real positions, but then the enemy can calculate them by the lack of movement of personnel next to them (or it is necessary to imitate it). Also, inflatable models can be placed next to the positions of real weapons. For example, one position can contain real Tanks and their inflatable mock-ups, both of which should be equally covered with camouflage nets and relief elements. Accordingly, there is a fairly high probability that the enemy will not recognize the real target from the UAV and will release an expensive guided munition at the "rubber" tank. Often, even modern detection systems are unable to distinguish between real tanks and their inflatable counterparts, either in the visible, thermal or radar wavelength ranges.
It can be assumed that under existing conditions, the optimal solution would be to purchase mock-ups of military equipment immediately after purchasing their real prototypes, for example, 5-10 mock-ups per one real unit of military equipment.
No less, and perhaps more difficult task for the enemy will be to distinguish real warehouses or power plants from their inflatable counterparts.
Inflatable power plant
Apparently, the armed forces of Armenia and the NKR actively use inflatable models, and this is what justifies the numerous confirmed cases of the destruction of UAV targets. Unfortunately, in the images from the UAV, it is difficult to understand that it was the inflatable target that was destroyed.
Highly realistic layouts
It cannot be ruled out that more realistic mock-ups may appear, made on the basis of a metal or polymer frame with imitation of smoke from cannon shots, etc. In principle, countries ordering a limited amount of military equipment and wishing to increase its survivability can develop and manufacture such mock-ups on their own in parallel with the purchase of combat samples.
Models of Soviet / Russian military equipment, made by order of the US Army for use in the exercise process
3D images
An even simpler solution could be to use 3D images. Of course, they will not be close to replacing the above false targets, but in any case, they will distract the enemy for a while. You shouldn't expect the enemy to spend high-precision ammunition on the "picture", but he will spend additional time on image recognition.
3D images can mislead the enemy, forcing him to spend extra time recognizing and finding real targets
The main advantages of 3D images are their minimal cost and ease of production. Basically, the image data can be applied to something like a banner stretched over a wire frame. Several dozen of these banners can fit in one truck. By moving them, you can pretty much load enemy reconnaissance with work, which will have to analyze photographs of satellite or aerial reconnaissance in an attempt to distinguish real aircraft and operational-tactical missile systems (OTRK) from their flat counterparts with a drawn shadow.
You can also draw images "stationary", periodically covering them with banners with the underlying surface texture.
High-quality 3D images may well mislead the enemy when shooting from a great height or from space.
The enemy will be extremely disappointed when, after striking an OTRK attack on an airfield with combat aircraft, found from space images provided by the "partners", it turns out that these were just drawings.
Camouflage nets
It is necessary not only to deploy decoys, but also to ensure effective camouflage of both real and decoys. The use of camouflage nets is one of the simplest ways to solve this problem. Modern camouflage nets not only reduce the visual, thermal and radar signature of protected objects, but also make it difficult to detect activity near these objects, complicating the identification of objects (real targets or inflatable mock-ups).
Using camouflage nets is one of the easiest ways to disguise
Smoke screens
To mislead the enemy about the activity of real and false objects, in addition to camouflage nets, smoke installations should be actively used. Modern metallized smoke and aerosols are capable of hiding objects not only in the visible, but also in the thermal, as well as in the radar wavelength ranges.
Installation of smoke screens
For the production of smoke, you can use not only specialized solutions, but also ordinary car tires - their reserves in settlements sometimes reach catastrophic proportions. The quality of such a smoke screen, of course, will be lower, but this is the most affordable solution, for which, in addition, you practically do not have to pay.
Smoke from burning car tires can significantly hinder the work of enemy reconnaissance.
Distortion of the signature of objects
The next stage is the camouflage of military equipment. This means not only camouflage nets, bushes and branches, but also a radical change in the appearance of military equipment. For example, a tank can be disguised as a truck, an OTRK as a refrigerator.
Disguise of a tank as a truck during World War II
Conversely, an old bus or a truck with difficulty moving can be given the appearance of an OTRK or multiple launch rocket system (MLRS).
In addition to the optical range, measures can be implemented to create false radar (RL) signatures. For example, with corner reflectors or Luneberg lenses.
Luneberg lens arrangement and placement on an F-22 fighter to distort the radar signature
The creation of a radar image of a target is hardly possible only with the help of corner reflectors or will be quite difficult to implement, but even simply randomly appearing contrasting radar marks will force the enemy to spend additional time on their identification.
Engineering solutions
One of the main tools of the infantryman was and remains the sapper shovel. With proper use, this is both disguise and protection from bullets and shrapnel.
Sapper shovel in some situations may be more important than a machine gun
During the First World War, thousands of kilometers of trenches were dug
In NKR, preparation of engineering barriers can be complicated by stony ground, but, on the other hand, ready-made engineering barriers will be more durable, and industrial explosives can be used for their manufacture.
The experience of Vietnam, Afghanistan and Palestine suggests that whole underground cities can be built, in which supply depots, hospitals and shelters, camouflaged firing points can be located. In stony ground, they can only be destroyed with powerful anti-bunker ammunition.
Underground cities of Vietnam and Palestine
Conclusions
Means of camouflage, decoys and engineering barriers are not of the same interest as weapons and military equipment. Often this applies not only to ordinary people, but also to the leadership of the armed forces of different countries of the world, at least until real clashes begin. Purchases of camouflage equipment pale in comparison to purchases of tanks, planes and ships.
Meanwhile, this is one of the most effective asymmetric methods of confronting an obviously stronger adversary, which is applicable not only to the situation with Armenia / NKR and Azerbaijan / Turkey, but also, for example, to the military conflict in Syria or Libya.
The measures presented in the article, implemented in a complex, can significantly weaken the impact of enemy aircraft, primarily UAVs, in the conditions of enemy air domination and lead to depletion of the enemy's reserves of high-precision ammunition.
It should be noted that the key element that determines the effectiveness of the use of camouflage means, false targets and engineering barriers is the training and discipline of the personnel of the armed forces.
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