Finnish defense industry startup Dobbelgänger develops advanced decoy technologies to save lives and reduce the potential for escalation

Article
VTT

Dobbelgänger, a spin-off from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, develops lightweight, movable decoys to meet the needs of 21st century battlefields. With the help of printed electronics and 3D mechanics, the company provides effective deception against aerial reconnaissance, safeguarding soldiers and equipment

The modern battlefield has evolved into a transparent environment. This can be largely attributed to the advancements in sensor technologies that offer visibility across the battlefield. While increased transparency and visibility are often considered a good thing, they can also pose challenges in maintaining secrecy, operational security and surprise elements crucial for effective defense.

“Today, every asset on a battlefield can be located,” says Terho Kololuoma, CEO and Co-Founder of Dobbelgänger.

According to Kololuoma, that is why we need new technologies to protect soldiers and equipment.

“At Dobbelgänger, we develop advanced decoy technologies that aim to save lives and preserve military platforms such as equipment and weapons systems. We also want to enable particularly small countries to leverage decoy technology to create the illusion of a larger army in the face of potential threats.”

This, Kololuoma believes, can diminish the likelihood of escalation by making the price tag for the aggressor too steep.

“Our compromise is the best one”

Successful decoys need to have an authentic spectral fingerprint across all wavelengths for optimal effectiveness. At Dobbelgänger, this key feature is achieved with printed electronics and 3D structures.

What is more, decoys need to offer exceptional operational usability while requiring minimal logistical resources.

“Decoy technologies must meet a large number of demands,” says Kololuoma.

That means that the final product is always a careful mix of size, weight, performance, durability, and various other factors.

“I believe our compromise to be the best one. Every decision we have taken has been taken for the right reason,” Kololuoma says. “When it comes to developing our products, we are humble. We listen and act on the feedback we receive.”

Originating from Finland, Dobbelgänger specialises in developing products designed to endure the challenging conditions presented by the four seasons in the north.

“If our products can withstand the demanding Finnish weather, they are poised to perform effectively in other locations, too,” Kololuoma asserts.

Terho Kololuoma
Terho Kololuoma, CEO of Dobbelgänger

Dobbelgänger’s technological roots date back several decades

Originally, Kololuoma began working with printed electronics over two decades ago when he joined VTT.

“VTT is one of the world's leading research institutes in this field,” says Kololuoma. “And I was among the pioneering researchers exploring printed technologies.”

“Recognising decoy technologies as a perfect application for printed electronics, I really wanted to explore their potential and what they could enable in the defense sector,” Kololuoma states.

What Kololuoma and his team actually came up with was a dual-use technology that also suited heating applications. Consequently, Kololuoma went on to establish two companies: Dobbelgänger and The Warming Surfaces Company, specialising in sustainable heating solutions for living spaces.

Kololuoma’s time at VTT not only deepened his knowledge of printed electronics but also equipped him with technological broad-mindedness.

“That's the good thing about VTT – you gain knowledge about so many areas,” Kololuoma explains. “Their technological reach is so wide, there’s always an avenue to explore and a way forward.”

Changed security landscape hastened the need for Dobbelgänger’s technology

In 2022, when Dobbelgänger was founded, the security landscape was very different from that of today. In fact, Kololuoma ran into difficulties when trying to raise funding for his company.

“Back then, dual-use and defense technologies weren’t really appreciated,” Kololuoma explains. “Many investment funds considered these technologies incompatible with their value system at that time.”

With the outbreak of Russia’s war aggression against Ukraine, the security landscape shifted dramatically, and suddenly, there was a lot of interest to fund the company.

“If it weren’t for the war, we would not be here, as unfortunate as it is,” Kololuoma points out.

What is next for Dobbelgänger?

In just a couple of years, Dobbelgänger has grown into a team of 11, forging ahead with the development of their advanced decoy technologies.

“Due to the rising drone threat, our solutions are now more important than ever,” says Kololuoma.

“I believe there will be a continued need for them in the foreseeable future as well. We are very committed to developing our decoy technologies and hope to see these opportunities embraced by the world.”

Share