Maduro’s Phantom Army: Venezuela Creates Mockups to Mislead U.S. Intelligence

The Venezuelan military has developed a series of mockups of weapons and equipment to deceive U.S. intelligence.

Engineers from the Armed Forces of the Bolivarian Republic have created models of a ZU-23 anti-aircraft autocannon, a 120-mm mortar and a VN-4 armored vehicle.

For the anti-aircraft autocannon, Venezuelan specialists attached foil corner reflectors to the barrel. Developers say the reflectors are intended to produce radar signatures that mimic returns from real combat vehicles. In this way, the Venezuelan military seeks to complicate the work of U.S. intelligence.

A mock-up of a 120-mm mortar was made from a plastic pipe, and a mannequin in camouflage was placed next to it to create the illusion of a serviceman.

In addition, Venezuelan engineers built a mock-up of the Chinese-made VN-4 armored vehicle, which is used by the country’s National Guard. The real vehicles are painted white and are used for patrols and the protection of strategic facilities.

The VN-4 is a light multi-purpose armored vehicle with a 4×4 wheel configuration that can carry various weapons systems.

In 2012, China’s NORINCO corporation received an order from the Venezuelan National Guard for 141 armored vehicles of various modifications, including 111 VN-4s in reconnaissance and armored personnel carrier configurations.

Such mock-ups are intended to simulate the presence of equipment in areas vulnerable to attack or aerial reconnaissance, distracting the enemy and preserving real assets.

In October, the United States sent a strike group led by the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford to Venezuela.

The current tension between the United States and Venezuela stems from U.S. accusations that senior Venezuelan officials are involved in drug trafficking and cooperate with drug cartels.

Washington says the government of Nicolás Maduro uses drug trafficking to fund the regime, while Caracas calls the accusations political pressure.