Iran’s drone swarms challenge US air defenses as troops in Middle East face rising threats

Sustained Iranian drone attacks are driving the Pentagon to expand layered counter-drone defenses, including interceptor systems and emerging laser technology

Morgan Phillips / Fox News 

Cheap Iranian drone attacks are forcing the Pentagon to rapidly expand layered air defenses in the Middle East, as thousands of U.S. troops stationed across the region face an escalating aerial threat that is testing the limits of traditional missile defenses.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said Tuesday its air defenses detected nine ballistic missiles and 35 drones launched by Iran. Eight missiles were intercepted while one fell into the sea. 

Of the 35 drones, 26 were shot down and nine crashed on UAE soil, the country said. 

The engagement highlights how the battlefield is shifting. 

Ballistic missiles travel high and fast, allowing long-range interceptors such as the Patriot air defense system and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) to engage them predictably. Drone swarms, which Iran increasingly has relied on in recent exchanges, present a different challenge to U.S. forces.

They fly lower, move slower and often arrive in clusters, making them harder to detect and more likely to strain defenses built for high-speed threats. Read more & see video here.