Iran's Cheap Drones Are a Big Problem for US
newser.com • • world
Key Points:
- The United States faces a challenge in the Iran war not from what it can destroy, but from Iran's use of cheap, hard-to-detect Shahed attack drones that are assembled from commercial parts in small workshops.
- Shahed-136 drones cost about $35,000 each and have a range of up to 1,500 miles, while intercepting them requires expensive missiles costing millions apiece, making the drones cost-effective for Tehran.
- Despite US and Israeli strikes on drone production sites, Iran continues to launch an estimated 70 to 90 drones daily, supported possibly by Russian production of up to 1,000 drones per day.
- Experts highlight the difficulty of tracking drone origins due to their simple construction methods, such as bending aluminum and 3D printing, complicating efforts to stem their deployment.
- With Iran focusing attacks on air defenses, radars, and command centers, the US faces the strategic question of how long it can sustain efforts to counter the persistent drone threat.
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