The Impact of Cheap Drones on Warfare

Iran's initial Shahed-136 drones delivered to Russia starting in late 2022 were basic loitering munitions without AI, relying on pre-programmed GPS/INS guidance to fixed targets. They have since been significantly improved through iterative upgrades with AI, cameras, and anti-jamming tech. Russia upgraded these models with AI, and Iran has also increasingly started using AI

Initial capabilities (2022–early 2024)

1. Used inertial navigation and GPS for waypoint-following to static targets; no cameras, AI, or live control.
2. Vulnerable to GPS jamming, leading to inaccuracy or misses, but cheap and mass-produced.
3. No onboard processing for target recognition—purely pre-planned strikes.
4. 
   

Key improvements over time

1. 2023–2024: Added 4G modems, cameras for man-in-the-loop (MITL) control via cell networks, and CRPA antennas for jamming resistance.
2. Mid-2025 onward: Integrated Nvidia Jetson AI processors, thermal cameras, and machine vision for autonomous target ID, heat-signature homing, and navigation in GPS-denied environments.?
3. These upgrades (e.g., Shahed-136 MS variant) enable dynamic targeting, evasive manoeuvres, and higher strike rates even against moving frontline assets.

It's interesting the Times is reporting the US is looking to acquire Ukrainian anti Shahed drones to help help protect itself, Israel and the Gulf states.

It's also interesting to note that Iran has used Russian drones in it's attacks. There is photo's of one of the drones used having Russian language markings on it.

Also another interesting development, did anyone notice Ukraine just took out a Russian Shadow Fleet tanker off the coast of Malta with drones. Mad to think Ukraine has that capability.

Problem is how cheap and cost effective drones are to produce is not only are the drones cheaper to make than the missiles used to shoot them down you can make so many of them you can simply overwhelm or exhaust any air defence system.

There only downside is that compared to ballistic missiles is they lack punch.

There is a viral video going around of Iran's underground drone stockpile..... it looks bloody impressive

If there are underground storage - the U SA will know where theya res stored and one deep petrate Bomb will wipe it out. This ios another reason why deranged dictators should be eliminatef in the world,

Possibly bad planning by the US to go into a war without a strategy to deal with the older drone models, as well as the newer AI models.

If their is MAGA boots on the ground, there are going to be lots of casualties. Ukraine are the best in the world in modern-day warfare. They have the most experience with drones - both on defence and attack.

China has a few drone "facilities" in South Africa... I'm sure it's our effective and productive labor force as well as our impeccable infrastructure luring them to our lovely shores.

Ukraine has pioneered the development of cut-price drone-killing equipment that cost as little as $1,000, rewriting the air defence rulebook and making other countries take notice.

In a post to social media, Zelenskyy said he had received a US request for support to defend against the drones in the Middle East and had given the order for equipment to be provided along with Ukrainian experts, without providing further details.

Ukraine helps partners who help our security and the protection of our people’s lives.

The story is just another angle to get at the demonize the USA. Accprding to report from the UAE - not even 5% of the drones get through the defense system. The other problem Iran has is that nothing in Iran is secret - so drone factories will and is being destroyed

SB is nuts as well - here never will be US troops on the round in Iran

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clevermike

Hall Of Famer

57,104 posts

Mar 06, 2026, 09:08

Accprding to report from the UAE - not even 5%

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DumbMike, does not understand that 5% is still allot. Sure, many get shot down - but by using expensive weapons. America are already starting to run low on these type of weapons. They now have a back order of about 50 billion to create more of these expensive drone blocking weapons.

The strategy for drones is that it is low cost warfare to deplete the enemies superior expensive weaponry.

The cost of the war for America is over 1 billion dollars per day in military expenses. This will soon increase. Also, the damage to international trade is another factor.

This does not include the costs for all other countries who have to shoot down cheap drones.

Your bumbling idiot hero Trump ridiculed Ukraine at every chance he could - the very people who know more about drone warfare than any country in the world. The US should have involved Ukraine earlier. Ukraine would have been happy to do so - as Iran are the ones who supplied the drones to Russia in the first place.

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S B

Latest information - the U SA ue electronic rays to destry the drones and mo9st of their production ite ha been destroyed already. S o they go some droes from Russia - but that oi also limited since transport is also a problem and Rusia needs fromes for use in Ukraine,

According to the Go venment of Dubai 13 drones were nt destroed ut of more than 300 used - of the 13 only 5 was not destroyedand hit urban areas,

By arrcking Muslim counties - they showed their real colors, Tha damage the drones caused is limited and attacking Muslim countries and even Cypress - part of which is under Turkish Government i d looking for serious trouble as well.

Al Jazeera stpr about the target in which the Ayatollah was illed had ZERO girls schools and no clinic as claimed, It a the place where the Ayatollahs office was and where the Iran Cabinet met. What is surprising was that the Iran Government was misled and the A yatollah and his dfellow cmurdrers did not fled to the underground bunker on the same site and that had excellent results,

In the mantime A tacks on Azerbaya and the Kurds have rulted in the to countries sending trooops into Iran where the meet vortually zero resistance = whie the people are dancing in the streets and are not ha the support of the vast majority of the Iranians.

Those whom the Gods wishes to estroy they drive mad. They should ahve negotiated to find a peacefu solution to their Nuclear arms obsession and oppressing of their own people through trerrorism and undermining of the Iranan people. At his tahe the atatcks are aimed at the ruling clique, the Revolutionary Guards abd armament production sites,

Read he following too:-

"Actor and producer Sam Asghari told "FOX & Friends" on Friday that the people of Iran stand with America as it carries out Operation Epic Fury.

"It's been 47 years that the Iranian people have been fighting this fight against the regime, and they wanted nothing to do with this government... And the people of Iran are in love with America, and they love America, just like I do, just like we do. And I'm happy that this situation is happening to make it clear to this world that we stand with America, we stand with a free world, and we want nothing to do with what's happening there with the government," Asghari said.

Asghari was 12 years old when his family fled Iran for the U.S. He said that coming to America was a "golden opportunity."

"I often say that the most patriotic Americans are immigrants that come from countries that are oppressed because they understand what it's like to live under tyranny with no opportunities," he added"

Funny how some site members sympathize wirth he Regime in Iran because they hate Trump.

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Donald Trump dog toys on sale at Crufts

It seems the Middle East countries are considering walking away from about 3 trillion dollars worth of deals with America. The economic damage that is predicted from a long war will wreck their economies.

Shit spreading galore by; two amazing idiots who is not basing any info on facts, As much negative BS about the u SA is spread by them s possibl. "It seems" is plain BS to start wth and BB is just a racialist BS spreader. What long war are you speaking about sheister?

Both of you are hoping for Iran to destroy the ME and the USA. What a spreader of shit are you preaching ?

thetruth

He'd my head nodding so frequently I'd a pleasant headache

& sadly its not only Putin that plays him like a fiddle, Netanyahu's taken the mantle

Thanks bob.

I know the Trumpanzees will be ridiculing us for even listening to Adam Schiff but I wonder how many of those same Trumpanzees can watch that clip and actually answer the question he's asking, why is the US at war?

It seems the Middle East countries are considering walking away from about 3 trillion dollars worth of deals with America. The economic damage that is predicted from a long war will wreck their economies.

It can not happen. The deals never existed in the first place, they were vague promises and more than anything, many countries in that part of the word are full passengers in the USD con. If the USD falls a reserve currency, they will lose all of it. And they are caught in a debt trap as they can not spend the US debt they have. It is just posturing for the Muslim street and its long lasting resentment toward their governing elite.

Additional note: Countries like Japan, the UK or France are up in the USD mess. They have lost much autonomy (beware, Germany by the way, one of the few countries in Europe that may reclaim autonomy from the US con) Trump has damaged severely the relationship to the UK: forces in the UK through the very weak Stamer are now signalling that the US have crossed boundaries and this despite, the UK being up to the eyes in the USD con.

I know the Trumpanzees will be ridiculing us for even listening to Adam Schiff but I wonder how many of those same Trumpanzees can watch that clip and actually answer the question he's asking, why is the US at war?

Liberals in general can not answer that question as it exposes them and their objectives. Liberals can not declare their objectives: they keep hiding their motivations.

Iran is an nth repeat of the same episode: all benevolent liberals who are sacrificing their blood and money to ensure peace, freedom and prosperity to a mysterious entity they can not even define (here the Iranian People) Liberals have no direct nor vested interests in the doing.

Of course, the war in Iran has all to do with liberals' best interests: liberals can merely not confess them.