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Russian Army Upgrades Its Inflatable Weapons

Posted by samzenpus on from the blowing-up dept.

jamax writes "According to the BBC: 'The Russian military has come up with an inventive way to deceive the enemy and save money at the same time: inflatable weapons. They look just like real ones: they are easy to transport and quick to deploy. You name it, the Russian army is blowing it up: from pretend tanks to entire radar stations.' But the interesting thing is these decoys are not dumb - actually they appear to be highly advanced for what I thought was a WWII-grade aerial photography countermeasures. Apparently they have heat signatures comparable with the military tech they represent, as well as the same radar signature."

13 of 197 comments (clear)

  1. Thanksgiving by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I want something like this I can send in my stead to my mother-in law's for Thanksgiving.

    1. Re:Thanksgiving by Chris+Burke · · Score: 4, Funny

      "Is that really Johnny? He isn't moving or talking or eating."

      "Well, you know the old saying. If it looks like a duck, and it has the same heat and radar signature as a duck, then it's probably a duck."

      "You're right. I'm sorry Johnny!"

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  2. Re:Special Points by the_one_wesp · · Score: 2, Funny

    Normally, yes, but YOU don't.

  3. In Soviet Russia, by fridaynightsmoke · · Score: 5, Funny

    In Soviet Russia, tank.. erm .. you blow up .. er... never mind.

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  4. beware by Lord+Ender · · Score: 5, Funny

    Spies beware: the facilities which house the inflatable weapons will be guarded around-the-clock by vicious balloon dogs.

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  5. Re:still might not be cost effective by qoncept · · Score: 2, Funny

    When do they roll out the inflatable MIRV?

    Pffft. Where's the inflatable Death's Head? Go big or go home.

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    Whale
  6. Explosive gases by British · · Score: 2, Funny

    Better yet, inflate them with explosive gases. Something shoots at them, they blow 'up real good.

    Probably the response to that would be to drop flachettes everywhere. Anything that doesn't pop when is real.

  7. huge market by greywire · · Score: 3, Funny

    I bet there'd be a huge market for these! What boy wouldn't want an inflatable rocket launcher? I know I do!

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  8. Aha! by gklinger · · Score: 2, Funny

    I thought the current estimates of Russian military spending were inflated.

  9. Re:Yes they are. by ColdWetDog · · Score: 2, Funny

    Correction: They are dumb.

    Let's be PC here. I believe the proper term will be 'militarily challenged'.

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  10. What? by argStyopa · · Score: 2, Funny

    No post about the "ballooning" military budget?

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  11. Re:I volunteer by oldspewey · · Score: 5, Funny

    When the writhing mass of snakes reflects light from certain angles, yes, you could call her a redhead.

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  12. Re:Gen Turgidson by brusk · · Score: 2, Funny

    After the Cold War, the CIA's estimates of Soviet balloon superiority turned out to be inflated.

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