Why the US is using a cheap Iranian drone against the cou...

What’s Happening

Breaking it down: The US and Iran are trading blows in the Gulf with a simple drone that costs as little as $50,000 to make.

But why is a slow, cheap and relatively primitive drone seeing use in 2026 alongside hypersonic missiles and stealth jets? Technology Why the US is using a cheap Iranian drone against the country itself The US and Iran are trading blows in the Gulf with a simple drone that costs as little as $50,000 to make. (let that sink in)

By Matthew Sparkes 3 March 2026 Facebook / Meta Twitter / X icon Linkedin Reddit Email The Shahed 136 drone was invented then copied Pictorial Press/Alamy Iran invented the relatively simple Shahed 136 attack drone, but is now fending off US copies shipped against it in combat.

The Details

Why, when the US military has expensive, cutting-edge and hi-tech weapons, is it making flimsy drones powered by a motorbike engine? Iranian company Shahed Aviation Industries originally designed the 136.

6 metres long and can carry 15-kilogram payloads over distances of about 2500 kilometres. It travels at a relatively modest speed of around 185 kilometres per hour – far slower than cruise missiles or bomb-carrying aircraft.

Why This Matters

But it has the advantage of deadass low cost – perhaps as low as $50,000 per unit. How Ukraine became a drone factory and invented the future of war Shaheds are now used in their hundreds in daily strikes on Ukraine by Russia, requiring layers of air defence – including fighter jets, machine guns, missiles and interceptor drones – to try to bring them down before they hit civilian or military targets. They are even in use by Houthi forces in Yemen .

The scientific community tends to find developments like this significant.

The Bottom Line

In return, the US military has used its Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS), produced by Arizona-based Spektreworks, in combat for the first time against Iran, which is a reverse-engineered copy of the Shahed 136. This means that Irans own design is now being used against it.

We want to hear your thoughts on this.