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Originally Posted by Kelly Pedersen
1) To confuse infrared scanners, the decoy needs a reactor of about the same energy output.
2) If the decoy has to manuver, it's exaust plume has to match the real ship. That means that it has to be thrusting at about the same energy as the real ship, which means it has to have about the same mass as the real ship, or it will accelerate noticably faster.
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For 1, the "real" ships are going to need some kind of way to make them radiate less heat, in the direction of the known enemies. Or go ahead and crank up the heat on the decoys, it will be cheaper then more real combatants. The important point is that if it is possible then it will be tried. It may not fool anyway at short range, but at long range it may make all the difference
For 2 put a bunch of weight in the decoys if needed. Once again the important thing is if it is cheaper to have the decoy.
I may be off base, but I doubt that space detection is anywhere near as cut and dried as we make it out to be - sure we see lots of rocks at a long distance currently, but we miss a good number still as well.