OVERVIEW: Bullfighter is an unguided, expendable, combined-spectrum naval decoy designed to counter radar-guided and infrared-guided anti-ship missile threats. It is fired from 130 mm deck-mounted decoy launchers to disperse both chaff and flare payloads simultaneously.

DETAILS: Bullfighter is the new generation of 130mm decoys for SRBOC and other 130mm launcher systems to protect naval vessels up to the size of frigates against anti-ship missiles equipped with RF and/or IR seekers. The combined RF and IR payload is collocated and simultaneously effective against RF and IR seekers. Bullfighter produces an RCS density which is six times higher than standard chaff-decoys, due to its special deployment technique. The spectrally adjusted IR-payload produces a ship-like spectral signature in all IR-wave bands. This ensures the decoy’s effectiveness against all common infrared sensors including two-colour infrared seekers. The deployment according to the “bullfighter principle” provides effectiveness against imaging IR seekers (IIR) with reduced fields of view and against RF seekers with reduced range gates.

– Bullfighter’s Function:
It is launched from a ship-mounted 130 mm decoy launcher.
Once deployed, it disperses radar-reflective chaff fibers and infrared-emitting flare material simultaneously.
This creates deceptive radar and infrared signatures that fool enemy missile seekers into locking onto the decoy instead of the ship.

NOTE:
Bullfighter has been successfully seeker tested against modern RF and IR seekers with highly sophisticated ECCM. Bullfighter is in service with the German, Polish, Malaysian, Portuguese and Spanish Navy

SOURCE:
Rheinmetall Bullfighter brochure: https://www.rheinmetall.com/Rheinmetall%20Group/brochure-download/Protection-Systems/D009e0222-Bullfighter-naval-130mm-combined-RF-IR-decoy.pdf ; Military Periscope–Bullfighter overview: https://www.militaryperiscope.com/weapons/sensorselectronics/electronic-support-measureselectronic-warfare/bullfighter/overview/ ; Joint Forces News DEFEA 2025: https://milmag.pl/en/rheinmetall-at-defea-2025-strong-partner-for-international-armed-and-security-forces/