What is the main challenge in distinguishing between legitimate targets and decoys?

The primary challenge in distinguishing between legitimate targets and decoys arises from the fact that decoys are specifically engineered to closely replicate the characteristics of actual threats. This effective mimicry can involve replicating radar signatures, infrared signatures, and other relevant features that might be used to identify a real target. Because decoys aim to deceive sensors and operators, they can often fool detection systems, potentially leading to misidentification.

While there may be nuances in how legitimate targets and decoys are presented, such as the complexity of formations or radar signatures, the core difficulty lies in the decoy's design, which is meant to create confusion and uncertainty in the identification process. This designed likeness makes it very challenging for operators or automated systems to differentiate between a real threat and a decoy without additional information or context to inform their decision-making.