Financial Times reports the US and Gulf countries are negotiating to purchase Ukrainian drones designed to intercept Iranian Shahed drones.
US and Gulf States Seek Ukrainian Missiles to Shoot Down Shaheds
Financial Times reports that the United States and at least one Gulf country are conducting negotiations to purchase Ukrainian intercepting drones designed to shoot down Iranian Shahed drones. Middle Eastern countries are seeking new defense systems that would be cheaper than Patriot missiles. A Shahed drone costs about $30,000, while a single interceptor missile can cost even more than $13.5 million. FT reports that it was Kyiv that first began using intercepting missiles produced by Ukrainian companies, costing just a few thousand dollars, to destroy Shaheds. However, the sale of Ukrainian systems, even those produced abroad, requires approval from the authorities in Kyiv.
Shaheds Pose Problem for United States
Zelensky revealed on Wednesday that Ukraine’s partners are seeking help in defending against Iranian Shahed drones. – They are asking for expert knowledge and practical operational experience – said the Ukrainian president and added that “there were also requests from the American side.” CNN reports that members of the Donald Trump administration told congressmen behind closed doors at the Capitol that Shaheds pose a major challenge. Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Ceine also admitted that unmanned aircraft are a bigger problem than anticipated. The American station noted that American air defense will not be able to intercept all of them. As described by the station, Shaheds fly slowly and low, making it easier for them to avoid air defense compared to ballistic missiles.
Iran Deploys New Faster Hadid-110 Drones
Meanwhile, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps used the fast kamikaze drone Hadid-110, also known as Dalahu, for the first time in attacks against US and Israeli forces. The new drone, capable of speeds exceeding 510 kilometers per hour, could – according to the Belgian-based portal ArmyrRecognition – seriously complicate the air defense operations of Israel, the United States, and their Middle Eastern allies.
Iran Uses Shaheds to Divert Defenses, Then Sends Faster Drones
For several days, Iran has been sending large numbers of slow Shahed drones to occupy US and Israeli radars and interceptor missiles, and then sends faster Hadid-110 models into battle that use gaps in defense to reach more vulnerable targets such as command centers, radar installations, or ammunition depots.
Hadid-110 Tested in Military Exercises, Features Stealth Capabilities
The Hadid-110 was tested during last year’s “Sahand-2025” anti-terrorist exercises conducted by countries belonging to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. At that time, the Tehran Times newspaper revealed that the drone has a design that reduces its radar cross-section, making it similar to stealth aircraft. An advantage of these drones is not only their speed, but also an altitude exceeding 9 kilometers and the ability to carry warheads weighing 30 kilograms.