'Best deception ever seen': US F-16 pilot reveals how a 30 kg device fooled Pakistan into thinking it downed a Rafale

In a major development in air warfare, the Indian Air Force (IAF) reportedly used artificial intelligence-powered technology during a four-day military operation with Pakistan in May 2025. Ryan Bodenheimer, a former US Air Force F-15E and F-16 pilot, described Operation Sindoor as a breakthrough in modern aerial combat, as reported by idrw.org. At the core of the operation was the Rafale’s X-Guard, an AI-powered towed decoy system that played a decisive role in neutralising Pakistani air threats.

AI-driven X-Guard key to success

The X-Guard system is developed by Rafale Advanced Defense Systems. It uses artificial intelligence to generate a 500-watt, 360-degree jamming signal. The device weighs 30 kilograms and trails behind the aircraft on a 100-meter-long fiber-optic cable. It copies the radar signals and Doppler effect of an actual Rafale jet, making it difficult for enemy radar systems and missiles to detect the real aircraft.

Ryan Bodenheimer, a former US Air Force F-15E and F-16 pilot, called the X-Guard “the best spoofing and deception we’ve ever seen.” He added that the system may have “redefined the rules of electronic warfare.”

IDRW report suggested that Pakistan’s Chinese-made PL-15E air-to-air missiles and J-10C fighter jets could not successfully detect or target the actual Indian jets. The decoy confused enemy radar and misled missile systems. The PL-15E missile, which is an export version of China’s PL-15, lacked advanced resistance to spoofing. The X-Guard may have also confused the KLJ-7A AESA radar on Pakistan’s J-10C fighters into thinking they had locked onto and hit Rafale jets.

Decoy proves reusable, rapid, and reliable

The X-Guard works faster than older US systems like the AN/ALQ-50 or ADM-160 MALD. It can be launched in under two seconds and retrieved for reuse. According to Business Today, citing Jane’s Defence Weekly, some Pakistani claims of shooting down Indian Rafales may actually have been hits on these decoys.

The system acts like a “decoy wingman,” attracting enemy fire away from the actual aircraft. The fiber-optic link between the pilot and the decoy allows real-time updates on missile activity and system status, without being affected by jamming efforts.

A new chapter in air warfare

Operation Sindoor highlighted how AI-driven technology can change the nature of air combat. By using tools like the X-Guard, the IAF was able to reduce visibility without sacrificing control or effectiveness. The mission showed that future air dominance may depend more on electronic deception than physical engagement.