Iran Used Ukraine War Lessons To Adapt Tactics Against US Air Defences

Iran has adapted tactics seen in the Russia-Ukraine war to put greater pressure on US air-defence systems during its ongoing conflict with Washington. Iranian forces have increasingly combined drones with ballistic and cruise missiles, creating multiple incoming threats at the same time and forcing American forces to use costly Patriot interceptor missiles. The approach has raised concerns about the sustainability of US air-defence stocks as attacks continue.

For five days, Iran launched repeated waves of drones and missiles against three US bases in Jordan. The attacks appeared designed to overwhelm or exhaust air-defence systems by presenting them with different types of targets simultaneously. US forces intercepted most of the incoming weapons during the first four days, but one Iranian missile eventually penetrated the defences on July 17 and struck temporary housing at a US base.

The strike killed three US soldiers and wounded more than 100 others, while several aircraft were also damaged in attacks on American facilities in Jordan during the same period. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that American forces had intercepted almost all the missiles but that one had managed to get through. The Pentagon has used more than 1,500 Patriot interceptors during the war and has fewer than 1,700 remaining, according to people briefed on US weapons stocks.

Also Read: Russian Strikes Kill Four In Kyiv, Surrounding Region As Air Defences Fall Short

Iran's tactics bear similarities to Russia's approach in Ukraine, where Moscow has repeatedly combined ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones to complicate Ukrainian air-defence efforts. Seth G Jones of the Center for Strategic and International Studies noted that using different types of weapons together makes it harder for defenders to protect multiple locations. Iran has also reportedly employed missiles capable of changing direction, further complicating interception efforts.

The US and Israel had targeted several Iranian missile sites during the first five weeks of the war, including facilities located underground. Washington had assessed that the strikes significantly damaged Iran's missile programme, but Iranian forces subsequently restored some facilities and resumed missile attacks. Iranian military assets have also been dispersed and concealed, with troops and senior officials reportedly moving between protected locations.

Iran's use of underground facilities and concealed positions has added another layer of difficulty for US forces. The country's nuclear programme is also believed to include facilities deep underground, including the heavily protected site known as Pickaxe Mountain. The combination of dispersed military assets, underground infrastructure and coordinated drone-and-missile attacks has demonstrated how Iran has adapted its battlefield methods, drawing in part on lessons from the war in Ukraine to challenge US air defences.

Also Read: Zelensky Asks US For 10% Of Patriot Systems To Counter Russian Missiles