Fibre-Optic Towed Decoy (FOTD)
Why it Matters?
In modern warfare, decoys have become a critical defensive strategy to protect combat platforms. They mislead enemy sensors, waste expensive munitions, and create confusion.
What You Should Know?
Decoys are a low-cost, high-impact defensive measure in the era of precision-guided warfare.
Decoys are used in warfare to protect real assets by misleading enemy intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems.
The Indian Air Force deployed the AI-enabled X-Guard Fibre-Optic Towed Decoy (FOTD) system on Rafale fighter jets during Operation Sindoor in 2025.
Fibre Optic Towed Decoy (FOTD)
It is an electronic countermeasure system designed to protect aircraft from radar-guided missiles.
It is a lightweight (around 30 kg), retractable, and reusable system that is towed behind a fighter aircraft.
It is connected to the aircraft by fibre optic cable, allowing real-time transmission of jamming signals.
FOTD creates a convincing illusion of the aircraft, tricking enemy radars and missiles into targeting the decoy instead of the real platform.
It provides 360-degree jamming coverage and integrates with onboard Electronic Warfare (EW) suites.