Tehran Relies Heavily On Drones Amid Manned Aircraft Losses

The US strike on the Iranian drone carrier IRIS Shahid Bagheri has highlighted Washington’s focus on targets linked to Iran’s unmanned air operations. Iran’s air force, which relies on an aging fighter fleet, has been severely impacted in the opening days of the war, with public reporting confirming only a handful of losses of manned aircraft. However, Iran has launched a large-scale drone campaign, with over 1,150 drones targeted at regional targets, according to reports from Gulf governments. The war is raising questions about the future of Iran’s air force and its ability to fight in the air, as reported by AeroTime.