We Examined Iran's Weapons Up Close

Key Concepts

• Zulfiqar Missile: An Iranian ballistic missile with a 600-mile range and a 1,000 lb warhead, capable of hypersonic speeds.
• Shahed-136: A low-cost ($20,000) Iranian "kamikaze" (loitering munition) drone.
• Hadid-110: A newer, jet-powered Iranian drone designed for higher speeds and increased difficulty of interception.
• Double Tap Strike: A tactical maneuver where a second strike occurs minutes after the first, specifically targeting first responders or damage assessment teams.
• Air Defense Systems: Defensive technologies including the Patriot missile system, C-RAM (Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar), Raytheon’s Coyote drone, and F-16 Fighting Falcon interceptors.

Iranian Weaponry and Capabilities

The conflict in northern Iraq has highlighted the diverse and evolving arsenal deployed by Iran.

• Ballistic Missiles: The Zulfiqar is a 34-foot-long missile capable of hypersonic impact. Another variant, the Kaibar, has also been identified in wreckage recovered by Kurdish forces.
• Drone Warfare: Iran has relied heavily on the Shahed-136, which is significantly cheaper to produce ($20,000) compared to the American Switchblade 600 ($70,000). The introduction of the jet-powered Hadid-110 in 2025 represents an escalation in speed, making these assets harder to intercept.
• Scale of Conflict: Since late February, Iran has launched over 700 missiles and drones into the Kurdistan region. Despite the US military claiming to have struck over 13,000 Iranian targets, reports indicate that approximately 50% of Iran’s missile launchers remain operational, and the country retains thousands of long-range kamikaze drones.

Defensive Operations and Challenges

Kurdish security forces, in coordination with Western military assets, are tasked with the dangerous job of diffusing and collecting unexploded ordnance.

• Risk Assessment: Specialized teams face the constant threat of "double tap" strikes, where secondary attacks target the site of the initial impact.
• Defense Infrastructure: The region relies on a multi-layered defense strategy, including:
  • Patriot Missile Systems: For high-altitude ballistic threats.
  • C-RAM: For point defense against incoming rockets and artillery.
  • Raytheon Coyote: Specifically utilized for drone interception.
  • F-16 Fighting Falcons: Used for aerial interdiction of drone swarms.
• Limitations: Despite these advanced systems, the defense has not been impenetrable, as evidenced by successful strikes on the US consulate and military installations in Erbil.

Strategic Lessons and Global Implications

The conflict has provided a sobering assessment of modern warfare:

• The Vulnerability of Advanced Militaries: The primary lesson identified is that even the most technologically advanced military (the US) struggles to provide total protection against large-scale, combined drone and missile attacks.
• Asymmetric Warfare: The cost-effectiveness of Iranian drones allows for high-volume saturation attacks that can overwhelm expensive, sophisticated air defense systems.
• Maritime Tensions: As a ceasefire is negotiated, focus has shifted to the Strait of Hormuz. US destroyers are currently preparing for mine-sweeping operations to clear naval mines laid by Iran, highlighting the potential for the conflict to expand into critical global shipping lanes.

Conclusion

The campaign in northern Iraq demonstrates that Iran’s military strategy relies on a high-volume, low-cost approach to drone warfare combined with high-precision ballistic missiles. The inability of Western air defenses to fully neutralize these threats suggests a paradigm shift in modern combat, where the sheer scale of drone deployment poses a persistent global security challenge. The ongoing situation in the Strait of Hormuz further underscores the volatility of the region and the potential for continued escalation.