– It is actually the case that the company that manufactures things like this also manufactures bouncy castles, says research leader Hans Kariis.
At the Total Defense Research Institute, FOI, in Linköping, there is an inflatable tank in the courtyard. It is a model of a Russian tank that they bought in for various tests.
If they had had a model of a Swedish tank, we wouldn’t have been allowed to film it.
– Then the opponent could learn the difference between real goals and our fake goals.
Make the opponent waste ammo
Mock targets are used extensively, and with great success, in the war in Ukraine according to Hans Kariis. The idea is for the opponent to waste ammunition on a false target. Now even Sweden can start using it.
– We think it can provide relatively good protection at a low cost, he says.
At the same time, research into new materials for camouflage is ongoing at FOI. This includes materials that can change properties depending on their surroundings.
For a long time, the area has not been a priority, says Hans Kariis. But the security policy situation has changed and new weapon systems, satellites and drones are being used to a greater extent. Having good camouflage has now been given a very high priority, he says.
– We see that interest is increasing both in Sweden and abroad.