Deadly Illusions: Holographic Missiles and Laser Camouflage Coming Soon

Inventors at Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces have suggested the idea of using laser-generated holography instead of the country’s latest Yars intercontinental ballistic missile systems to disorient potential foes; the laser-generated technology will be unveiled in October at the international exhibition of Russia’s Defense Ministry.

“Large-scale holographic images, identical in their dimensions to Yars intercontinental ballistic missile systems, could be generated with the help of lasers.

The images could also be used to camouflage the missile systems as the surrounding landscape or other objects,” the press-service of Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The new technology is to be unveiled at the International exhibition “Innovation Day of the Defense Ministry,” which is taking place in the Moscow region on October 5-6.

The missile system camouflage will take into account the specific nature of the military units, reflecting and radiating characteristics of the equipment and facilities.

The three-stage Yars missile is Russia’s newest mobile intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system. It was first tested in 2007. Although most of its characteristics are classified, freely available information suggests that it can deliver at least four thermonuclear warheads weighing 300 kilotons each to a target located 11,000 kilometers away.

The ICBM is solid-fuel based, and its boost phase is much shorter compared to previous generation missiles. The RS-24 Yars has “adaptive” missile shield piercing capacity and its warheads are maneuverable – making it highly unlikely to be intercepted.