Since World War II, the military has used "fake" tanks to deceive the enemy in various ways, and deception techniques have become more advanced. The most intense armored combat since World War II has occurred in the ongoing battle in Ukraine. It is worth noting that some of the best main battle tanks today are involved in the operation, including Russia's T-90M "Breakthrough" main battle tank, Germany's "Leopard" -2 main battle tank, Britain's "Challenger" -2 tank, especially the American made M1 "Abrams" main battle tank. This conflict also turned the front line into a "graveyard" for tanks, with thousands of tanks destroyed. Despite significant advances in tank technology, there have also been significant advancements in weapons and methods for combating large armored vehicles. Individual anti tank weapons such as AT4, M72 LAW, and FGM-148 "Spear" are believed to have destroyed many Russian tanks in the first few months of the war. Both the Ukrainian and Russian armies have used drone systems and cruise missiles or suicide drones to counter each other's main battle tanks. This has led to efforts to provide better protection, including the installation of explosive reactive armor, radio jammers, and even temporary solutions such as "roof cages" and nets. However, both sides have also followed past practices and the use of deception has become more widespread. Vikram Mittal, a contributor to Forbes magazine, reported that Moscow and Kiev have deployed an increasing number of advanced decoy tanks. This is not the first time bait has been used in a war zone. Over two years ago, Czech inflatable technology companies provided Ukraine with "inflatable fake weapons". The company has produced a decoy version of the T-72 main battle tank and even a decoy version of the American made "Hamas" high mobility rocket launcher system, which is considered a "high-value target". These inflatable vehicles were developed for training rather than deception, but the fact quickly proved that they were very effective in deceiving enemies. The British Army's "Operation Bertram", which began before the Second Battle of Alamein in North Africa, used fake vehicles to deceive German General Erwin Rommel about the timing and location of the Allied attack. Fake vehicles were also used to portray the fictional First Army Group of the United States, deceiving Nazi Germany into believing that the Normandy landings would take place near Calais, not Normandy. Similar decoy tanks are also being used now, but with limitations. Mittal wrote, "Although these makeshift decoys cannot withstand careful inspection, they can still deceive unmanned reconnaissance aircraft or distant observers. However, with the help of modern imaging technology, these rudimentary decoys are easily found to be fake, so their actual effectiveness has declined." Therefore, people are striving to increase the complexity of these decoys, and Mittal cited some posts on social media that showcase realistic decoys for the German Panther 2A6 tank. According to online reports, 'Russians spent 1 to 3' Lancet 'suicide drones' to destroy fake main battle tanks. People are now working hard to create bait that is easier to believe. Mittal mentioned the efforts of the US i2k Defense Company in developing advanced decoys at a higher level. In addition to using fabrics that look more realistic at close range, these systems can also be "deployed autonomously, achieving faster and safer installations without human intervention". Similarly, Temran Military Solutions in Kiev is also researching activity baits installed on trucks, which can also be remotely controlled. This allows these decoys to adjust their position like real armored units, thereby enhancing their ability to deceive the enemy. The purpose of using these baits has hardly changed compared to the period of World War II, mainly to deceive the enemy. However, in this situation, it can also prompt opponents to increase the use of expensive drones and other weapons. Although fake tanks may not be cheap, their cost is lower than the weapons used to destroy them. This also means that one or more enemy drones or rockets targeting a real tank and its crew have been reduced. (New Society)