In a major move to enhance the survivability of India’s next-generation indigenous fighter, the IAF has decided to deploy the Israeli X-Guard on the Tejas Mk2. Popularly known as ‘Latkan Baba’ in Indian military circles due to its trailing deployment style, this AI-enabled, fiber-optic towed decoy is designed to “spoof” enemy radars and missiles. Unlike traditional jamming, which passively blocks signals, the X-Guard actively deceives sophisticated tracking systems, making the enemy believe the decoy is the actual aircraft. This technology proved its worth during Operation Sindoor, where it successfully allowed Rafale jets to evade air defense systems while misleading adversaries.
Developed by the Israeli defense firm Rafael, the X-Guard is a lightweight, reusable system that can be deployed when an aircraft enters a high-threat zone. It features a solid-state antenna array capable of defeating advanced tracking radars, including Monopulse and LORO types, as well as radar-guided surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. The system is retractable in flight using an advanced reel-out mechanism, allowing it to be stowed back inside the aircraft pod once the mission is complete. By maintaining fiber-optic continuity throughout the flight, it provides a high-value active protection layer that drastically increases aircraft survivability in contested airspaces.
The integration of the X-Guard elevates the Tejas Mk2 into the same defensive league as elite Western frontline fighters. This development underscores the Indian Air Force’s shift toward making electronic warfare (EW) a core component of its combat strategy rather than a secondary capability. By combining this decoy system with the jet’s modern radar and sensors, the Tejas Mk2 will be better equipped for high-risk roles such as deep-strike missions, air dominance, and the suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD). This move ensures that India’s homegrown combat platform is not only lethal in attack but also incredibly difficult to intercept.
