Despite the United States’ overwhelming technological advantage in the air, Iran has been able to use its weapons more effectively and cost-efficiently in the ongoing conflict by relying on inexpensive one-way attack drones.
The United States maintains air superiority over Iran with advanced aircraft, surveillance systems and sophisticated air defence technology. However, Iran has adopted a strategy centred on cheap kamikaze drones designed to fly directly to a target and explode on impact.
These drones allow Iran to sustain attacks without facing significant financial strain. In contrast, intercepting them can be far more expensive for the defending side.
According to the New York Times, the cost of neutralising a drone is significantly higher than the cost of launching one. Arthur Erickson, chief executive and co-founder of Texas-based drone manufacturer Hilio, said the conflict has become a “money game”.
He explained that the ratio between the cost of destroying a drone and launching one is roughly 10:1 and could rise as high as 60 or 70 to 1. This imbalance means Iran gains a strategic advantage in terms of cost, even when many drones are intercepted.
Iran deployed more than 2,000 drones in retaliation after a joint attack by the United States and Israel. Although advanced air defence systems worth billions intercepted many of them, some drones managed to reach their targets.
Among the most widely used are Iran’s triangular-shaped Shahid drones. About 11 feet long, the drones produce a loud sound during flight, carry explosive payloads and detonate with significant impact.
Their compact size allows them to be launched from trucks, making them easy to conceal and difficult to track.
Built using commercially available electronics, Shahid drones typically cost between $30,000 and $50,000, depending on the model, according to NBC News.
Russia has also mass-produced its own version of the Shahid drone for attacks on Ukraine, and Iran is believed to possess thousands of them.