Indian Air Force Floats Tender for Inflatable Aircraft Decoys With IR Signatures

The Indian Air Force has floated a tender for two inflatable aircraft decoys equipped with infrared signature features, strengthening its use of deception measures for protecting high-value air assets.

The Ministry of Defence tender, issued through the Government e-Marketplace on September 23, 2026, seeks two inflatable decoys with IR signifiers for the Indian Air Force. The bid is scheduled to close on October 14, 2026, while the contract value has not been publicly disclosed.

Decoys Intended to Complicate Enemy Targeting

Inflatable aircraft decoys are designed to resemble real combat aircraft closely enough to mislead hostile surveillance and targeting systems. Their purpose is to create false targets around air bases and dispersed operating locations, forcing an adversary to spend time and resources distinguishing genuine aircraft from replicas.

The inclusion of an infrared signature increases their effectiveness against modern electro-optical and thermal sensors, which are designed to detect heat patterns rather than relying only on visual identification.

DRDO Has Developed Indigenous Inflatable Aircraft Decoy Technology

The procurement comes against the backdrop of an indigenous DRDO programme for inflatable aircraft decoys. DRDO’s Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur, has developed the Air Retainable Type Inflatable Aircraft Decoy technology, known as InfADec, and has made it available for transfer to industry.

According to DRDO, InfADec is a full-scale 1:1 inflatable aircraft decoy made from specially designed coated fabric. The system has a modular structure and is designed to retain its shape for extended periods without requiring continuous blower operation.

DRDO states that the decoy can be inflated or deflated within about 10 to 12 minutes and can be handled by a small team, giving it an advantage for rapid deployment and relocation.

Mobility Makes Inflatable Systems Useful for Dispersed Operations

The light weight and compact transport footprint of inflatable decoys make them suitable for rapidly changing operational environments.

They can be deployed near air bases, temporary operating locations and dispersed aircraft sites, allowing the Air Force to alter visible deployment patterns without moving actual combat aircraft.

This mobility gives commanders greater flexibility in creating deceptive layouts during periods of heightened alert or active operations.

Tender Does Not Publicly Identify Aircraft Type

The publicly visible tender information identifies the requirement as two inflatable decoys with infrared signatures, but it does not specify whether they are intended to represent Rafale, Tejas Mk1A or any other particular aircraft type.

Claims linking the procurement specifically to those platforms should therefore be treated cautiously unless more detailed official tender documents confirm the required aircraft configuration.

Deception Adds Another Layer to Air-Base Protection

Modern air-base survivability relies on a combination of hardened shelters, dispersal, camouflage, electronic warfare, air defence and deception.

The latest IAF tender shows that inflatable aircraft decoys are being treated as an operationally relevant capability. With DRDO already offering indigenous technology in this area, the procurement also creates scope for strengthening domestic expertise in battlefield deception systems.

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References

Government e-Marketplace / Ministry of Defence — Bid GEM/2026/B/7990625 for procurement of two inflatable decoys with IR signifiers for the Indian Air Force, published September 23, 2026.

Defence Research and Development Organisation — Air Retainable Type Inflatable Aircraft Decoy Technology (InfADec), Defence Laboratory Jodhpur.

Defence Research and Development Organisation — Transfer of Technology listing for InfADec, published May 22, 2025.

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