On the 28th of last month, as U.S. and Israeli forces began airstrikes in Iran, the skies over the Middle East were filled with the thunderous roar of Iranian drones, likened to motorcycles racing through the air. These drone swarms, resembling manta rays, executed dive-bombing attacks on targets, with many either intercepted by ground missile defenses or striking military bases and high-rise buildings. Social media erupted with videos capturing the shock of citizens and the destructive explosions caused by these drones, highlighting their terrifying impact across the region after previously being waged in Ukraine.

Iran has been developing various drones as a form of asymmetric warfare to counterbalance the traditional airpower superiority of Western military forces. Employing these drones as a core retaliation strategy against missile assaults during the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, the conflict's outcome may hinge on whether U.S. anti-drone measures can outlast Iran's drone launch capabilities.

Among the most crucial elements of Iran’s aerial strategy is the Shahed-136 drone, which was first unveiled in late 2021. Capable of carrying a 30 kg explosive over a distance of up to 2,500 km with a speed of 180 kph, this drone remains challenging to intercept due to its operational altitude of over 4,000 m. As Iran stockpiles thousands of these suicide drones, including a reported addition of 1,000 earlier this year, the analysis indicates Iran continuously diversifies and expands its striking capabilities with an emphasis on drone warfare, shaping the dynamics of modern geopolitical conflicts in the region and beyond.