Iran's Lethal Low-Cost Weapon: Shahed Drones Challenge US, Israel Defenses

• Shahed drones are Iran's primary low-cost, lethal weapon against US and Israel, central to its military strategy.
• Models like Shahed-136 are simple, inexpensive loitering munitions designed to explode on impact, used to offset technological disadvantages.
• Costing around $20,000 per unit, they force opponents to expend millions on interceptor missiles, creating a strategic cost imbalance.
• Their simple design allows mass production, and they are launched in large swarms to overwhelm advanced air defense systems.
• These drones are a key component of Iran's asymmetric warfare doctrine, supporting larger missile attacks and challenging superior militaries.