Fact Check: AI Image of US Strike on Iranian Decoy Aircraft is Fake

Brickinfo News Agency – An investigation by the Thai Roo Than project has debunked a viral social media claim featuring a supposed satellite image of an Iranian airfield. The image allegedly showed US missiles striking decoy aircraft painted on a runway, suggesting that US intelligence had been fooled by simple 2D paintings. However, technical analysis confirms the visual evidence is AI-generated and originated from fabricated reports circulated online.

The Thai Roo Than team identified several glaring inconsistencies in the image that point toward Artificial Intelligence generation rather than authentic aerial photography. A primary red flag is the illogical scale of the aircraft. When compared to the nearby buildings shown in the image, the dimensions of the “fighters” do not align with actual military hardware like the MiG-29, which has a wingspan of approximately 11 meters. Furthermore, the runway width and building proportions are visually inconsistent when cross-referenced with civilian satellite platforms like Google Maps.

Technical errors in the coordinate data embedded in the image further prove its lack of authenticity. The latitude and longitude markers displayed on the left side of the frame show impossible numerical sequences, such as “55553’0” followed by “51500’0,” with subsequent lines adding extra digits that do not follow standard geographic notation. The horizontal and vertical coordinate tracks also fail to sync, a common error in AI-generated imagery where text and numbers are often hallucinated.

Expert military analysis from thaiarmedforce.com corroborated these findings, labeling the claims as entirely baseless. The experts noted that the image is a clear fabrication originating from foreign sources before being translated and shared among Thai netizens. They emphasized that professional imagery intelligence does not rely on casual observation but utilizes high-resolution military-grade satellites and sophisticated software capable of distinguishing 2D paintings from 3D objects.

“This is a very clear AI-generated image; you can tell just by glancing at it. Military satellite imagery analysis is conducted by highly trained personnel using specialized tools. Even if this were a real photo, the lack of shadows and depth would immediately identify it as a flat painting. Furthermore, military satellites have much higher specifications than commercial ones. Real decoys involve using decommissioned aircraft or inflatable models to create actual dimensions and shadows that can realistically deceive aerial reconnaissance.”

The report concludes that the narrative of the US military wasting ammunition on painted runways is a “delusional” internet fabrication. In reality, military deception tactics—while common—require physical models to be effective against modern sensors. The public is urged to remain skeptical of sensationalist content and to verify sources before sharing potentially misleading information generated by AI.