Cheap, the Iranian kamikaze drone forces armies to rethink their defense strategy to avoid wasting their expensive missiles.
This is the Iranian response to American and Israeli military operations. Since the hostilities began at the end of February, the Ayatollah regime has fired, according to a recent count by an American think tank, the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, 1817 ballistic missiles and 4211 drones, initially towards the United Arab Emirates.
This method of disrupting its adversaries by destabilizing the energy sector and thus the global economy involves the use of a proven Iranian weapon: the Shahed-136 kamikaze drone.
This delta-wing aircraft has a wingspan of 2.5 meters and a length of 3.5 meters. Its use was first documented in Yemen in January 2021 and later became known for its extensive use in Ukraine by Russia.
While the Shahed-136 (martyr in Persian) and its Russian equivalent Geran-2 (geranium in Russian) are slower (under 200 km/h) and more vulnerable than cruise missiles, with comparable range (about 2,000 km) and trajectory, they have a significant advantage in their ruggedness. “The true capacity revolution brought by these new drones lies in their price, ranging from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and their simple manufacturing,” summarized researcher Guillaume Furgolle in a study published by the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI).
[Context: The article discusses how the use of low-cost drones, such as the Iranian Shahed-136, is challenging traditional defense strategies and forcing military forces to adapt to the evolving threat landscape posed by these drones.]
[Fact Check: The article presents information about the use and impact of Iranian drones in military operations, highlighting their cost-effectiveness and tactical advantages.]
For further reading:
– Innovation – HELMA-P: the anti-drone laser
– Footage showing the UAE’s air defenses intercepting and destroying Iranian UAVs that attempted to
– A video showing the interception of drones by the French Navy
– The era of interceptor drones
– The development of advanced interception drones in response to evolving drone threats
The article underscores the need for proactive responses to the evolving drone threat landscape, with a focus on advanced interception technologies and strategies to counter the proliferation of low-cost and potentially disruptive drones in conflict zones.
