Dobbelgänger Oy: Advanced Decoy Technologies for European Defense Autonomy
In a quiet industrial corner of Finland, a small deep-tech company is reinventing one of warfare’s oldest tricks for the modern battlefield. Dobbelgänger Oy, an Oulu-based startup spun off from a leading Finnish research institute, is developing high-tech military decoys that look and “feel” real to enemy sensors[1]. These aren’t mere inflatable dummies – they are lightweight, mobile devices with authentic radar and thermal signatures, engineered through printed electronics and advanced materials. The goal is simple yet ambitious: to mislead adversaries’ drones, satellites, and reconnaissance systems into chasing ghosts, thereby protecting real soldiers and equipment[2][3]. Founded in 2022 amid a rapidly changing security climate, Dobbelgänger has quickly drawn attention for its potential to bolster Europe’s defense autonomy. By allowing even smaller nations to simulate a larger military footprint, its technology adds a new layer to deterrence – one built on deception and technological ingenuity. This introduction explores the company’s origins and innovations, setting the stage for an in-depth analysis of how Dobbelgänger’s advanced decoys could strengthen European security in an era of strategic competition.