Why are Iranian drones so deadly? | The Economist

Summary

Shashank Joshi explains that Iran’s Shahed drones sit somewhere between a drone, an aircraft and a cruise missile. Russia has bought them from Iran, licensed their production and now manufactures them in large numbers under the name Geran. Iran is believed to manufacture its own drones, while Russia has helped develop tactics for using them effectively.

Their appeal lies in their low cost and flexible launch options. A Shahed is slower and carries a smaller warhead than a ballistic missile, but it can be produced in large quantities and launched from varied locations. Flying low—including over the sea—also makes it harder for conventional radar to detect. This creates a cost problem for defenders: high-end air-defence interceptors can destroy the drones, but may cost far more than the targets.

Other defences include fighter aircraft firing missiles, laser-guided rockets, cannons and, potentially, lasers. Each has limitations: close-range cannon fire is risky, and lasers can be less effective in the Gulf’s dusty or sandy conditions. The central challenge is finding methods that are both effective and affordable enough to sustain against large-scale attacks.

Ukraine has gained extensive experience defending against Shaheds. Its forces increasingly use fast, manoeuvrable and relatively cheap first-person-view (FPV) interceptor drones to pursue and destroy them; some newer systems use AI guidance for the final interception. Ukraine has also deployed interceptors from uncrewed boats to target drones flying over water.

Joshi cites Ukraine’s destruction of more than 1,700 Shaheds in January—about half the number Russia launched that month—with roughly 70% of those kills attributed to interceptor drones. He stresses that success depends heavily on skilled, well-practised operators and that tactics continue to evolve.

Ukraine is already sharing expertise with Gulf countries, including through advisory teams. President Volodymyr Zelensky sees this as an opportunity to secure Gulf investment in Ukrainian production and to press Western partners for military support. The exchange reflects a broader imbalance: Gulf states have financial resources, while Ukraine has relevant technology and battlefield experience. Joshi argues that Ukraine’s expertise gives it leverage, despite claims that it has few bargaining cards.

Presenters and contributors: Rosie Blau and Shashank Joshi