The F-35’s Secret Weapon Is Insane
YouTube / Real Engineering
A Decoy That Outsmarts Missiles
With radar-guided missiles becoming faster and more sophisticated, the F-35 needed a cutting-edge defense system—and it got one. Enter its next-level towed decoy, a high-tech lifesaver designed to keep this stealth fighter one step ahead of danger.
Here’s how it works:
When activated, a small hatch on the jet opens and deploys a device on a long, fiber-optic cable that trails behind the aircraft at a safe distance. This compact system packs a triple-threat defense:
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Electronic Jamming: First, it sends out powerful jamming signals to confuse incoming radar-guided missiles. Everything is managed in real time by the F-35’s onboard computer.
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Disruption Mode: If a missile still locks on, the decoy kicks into high gear, scrambling the missile’s tracking to throw it off target.
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Full Decoy Mode: And if things get critical, the system mimics the F-35’s radar signature, tricking the missile into following the decoy instead of the real jet.
It’s stealth, speed, and smarts—all in one sleek countermeasure. Just one more reason the F-35 stays dominant in the skies.
