Iranian Shahed drones are becoming a significant concern for Ukraine, the US, and Middle Eastern allies. Here’s a detailed overview of their use, impact, and the defensive challenges they pose.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the United States and its Middle Eastern allies are looking to Ukraine for advice on how to combat Iran’s Shahed drones, according to the Associated Press.
Ukraine Advises on Shahed Drone Defense
Zelenskyy clarified that Ukraine has received requests for help in protecting against Iranian drones from a number of nations, including the United States. According to AP, he has recently talked about possible collaboration with leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait.
The Shahed, which was created in Iran and only cost about $20,000, is becoming a common weapon in contemporary battles. Russia, Tehran’s partner, has used the drones extensively during its protracted invasion of Ukraine.
Drone Strikes Across the Middle East
On Monday, March 2, Bloomberg reported that basic cruise missiles and small Shahed-136 one-way attack drones continued to strike targets throughout the Middle East.
Following US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran that started on Saturday and included cruise missiles, drones, and precision-guided bombs, these drones have struck US military outposts, oil installations, and residential buildings in recent days.
🚨 Shahed Drone Threat Overview
- Cost per Drone: ~$20,000
- Targets: Military outposts, oil installations, residential buildings
- Used By: Russia and Iran
- Effect: Psychological burden, forces use of expensive interceptors
- Deployment Speed: Minutes to reach Gulf sites
Challenges for Air Defenses
According to US Department of Defense budget figures, air defense systems utilized by Israel and the Gulf states can be quite costly, often needing interceptor missiles that cost between $3 million and $12 million per shot.
The fact that these air defenses have limited stocks of interceptor missiles and that each time one is used to take down an inexpensive Iranian drone or missile, a precious and scarce defensive resource is consumed underlines a significant problem for Iran’s adversaries.
Impact on Gulf States
The Ministry of Defense of the United Arab Emirates reported on Tuesday that 65 of the 941 Iranian drones that have been identified since the beginning of the Iran conflict have fallen within its borders, causing damage to hotels, ports, airports, and data centers.
Iranian Shahed drones and other ballistic missiles have been successfully intercepted by US-made Patriot air defense systems; the UAE has reported interception rates above 90%.
💰 Defense Costs vs Drone Costs
- Interceptor Missile: $3–12 million each
- Shahed Drone: ~$20,000 each
- Interception Rate UAE: >90%
- Strategic Challenge: Low-cost drones deplete expensive defensive resources
- Psychological Impact: Civilian populations under persistent pressure
Production & Deployment Scale
Iran was thought to have about 2,000 ballistic missiles during the battle with Israel last year. It probably has an even greater number of Shahed drones. According to Becca Wasser, defense lead at Bloomberg Economics, Russia, another significant producer, has apparently been able to build several hundred of these drones every day.
Since the battle began this year, Tehran has fired around 1,200 projectiles, many, if not most, of which were Shaheds. According to Wasser and Bloomberg, this implies that they might be reserving more potent ballistic missiles for prolonged assaults.
Iran-Russia Collaboration
Iran provided Russia the Shahed-136 “kamikaze” drones and the technical know-how necessary for Moscow to manufacture them on its own as the Geran-2. According to Bloomberg, this collaboration was formalized in a deal worth roughly $1.75 billion that was signed in early 2023 and included the drones and technologies for domestic production in Russia.
According to Patrycja Bazylczyk, an expert with the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC, “The Shahed-136, among other unmanned aerial vehicles, has provided powers like Russia and Iran an inexpensive means to impose disproportionate costs,” as CNBC noted.
“They put a persistent psychological burden on civilian populations, cause opponents to squander expensive interceptors on low-cost drones, and project power.”
Vulnerability of Gulf States
Because these unmanned weapons are far simpler to deploy than missiles, pose less danger for the attacker, and can reach some sites in the Gulf in a matter of minutes, those Arab Gulf states are also more susceptible to attacks by Iran’s Shahed explosive drones. According to The Conversation, Iran is believed to have a sizable inventory of these drones—possibly as many as 80,000.
Reuters reported on March 3 that the Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drone, manufactured by Arizona-based SpektreWorks, was unveiled in July 2025 at a Pentagon event where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the inner courtyard with over a dozen companies vying to supply the military with new equipment.
The successful use of drones in the conflict in Ukraine, notably Iranian-made Shahed systems run by Russia that closely resemble the LUCAS, has demonstrated the growing importance of drones in contemporary combat.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute military or defense advice. Readers should consult official sources for security updates and guidance.
