Cheap drones that fly close to the ground, Russian tactics: How Iran is standing up to the US and Israel

Iran’s use of attack drones is a big deal in the tensions with the United States and Israel in West Asia. Military experts say Iran is using these low-cost drones and surprise attacks more and more. They learned some of these tactics from Russia’s war in Ukraine.

• One key part of Iran’s plan is to use drones that fly low to the ground.

These drones are called loitering or "one-way attack drones." They are made to avoid radar systems that are good at detecting high-flying aircraft or missiles.

By flying and using the land as cover the drones can get close to targets without being detected.

This makes it hard for defense systems to stop them before they hit.

The Shahed series is one of the talked-about drones used by Iran. Russia also used these drones in Ukraine.

They are simple. That’s also their strength.

They are much cheaper to make than missiles or fighter jets.

This means Iran can make and launch many of them at the time.

There’s a difference in cost between these drones and the missiles used to intercept them.

A typical attack drone costs tens of thousands of dollars.

The missiles used to stop them can cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.

This creates what experts call an " asymmetry."

The side defending must spend more to stop each drone.

Iran also uses the tactic of sending drones at the same time.

Even if defense systems destroy most of them a few can still get through.

This puts pressure on defense networks. Makes successful strikes more likely.

Defense experts think Iran’s tactics were influenced by Russia’s experience using drones in Ukraine.

Russia used drones to attack infrastructure and military sites.

The lessons learned, like flying and launching many drones are now used by Iran.

The goal of these tactics is to make up for Iran’s disadvantage compared to the United States and Israel.

Of competing with advanced jets or missiles Iran uses affordable technology to challenge enemy defenses.

Experts say this is a shift, in warfare.

Small cheap drones can now threaten infrastructure, military bases and cities.

Countries are now investing in defense systems to counter drone attacks.

For the United States and its allies the challenge is to find cost- ways to stop these threats.

Traditional defense systems were made to intercept aircraft and missiles not small drones.

As drone technology evolves military planners must adapt their strategies to a changing battlefield.