British Army could use INFLATABLE tanks to trick enemies about our strength after military budget cuts
An official study found we could boost 'deception capability' by deploying inflatables to make up for our lack of troops
INFLATABLE tanks could be used to trick enemies as top brass try to cover up a lack of Army strength.
Russia and America already use them to fool satellites and drones.
An official study of urban warfare found we should deploy inflatables to boost “deception capability” and to make up for a lack of troops.
Up to 65 senior officers, led by Lt-Gen Patrick Sanders, took part in a study in Germany this month.
They were asked to examine what urban warfare technology Britain would need by 2035.
The Army’s ageing fleet of Challenger 2 tanks was slashed from 325 to 227 after the 2010 defence review. Russia has 2,700 frontline tanks.
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Wendy Eagle, a warrant officer in the Royal Logistic Corps who took part in the study, said deception was “absolutely necessary” to compensate for Britain’s small-scale military. She insisted the Army needed to force its enemies into “spending time working out what is real”.
Ms Eagle said generators could be used to give off heat, confusing drones that use thermal cameras.
Mobile transmitters broadcasting fake radio signals could also cause confusion about placement of UK forces.
The Allies used dummy tanks in southern England in World War Two to make it appear that the D-Day landings would take place near Calais instead of Normandy.
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