Iran Kamikaze Drones: 5 Reasons They’re a Threat to US Carriers

When two sides have unequal military strength, instead of matching ship for ship, or missile for missile, the weaker side uses unconventional, low-cost, high-impact tactics to offset the stronger side’s advantage.

Drones, commonly known as unmanned aerial systems (UAS), fit that model perfectly.

The types of drones used in warfare are increasing. The US military classifies UAS into five groups; NATO classifies them into three classes.

Drones can disrupt shipping lanes, close airports, burn down oil facilities and damage critical infrastructure. They can force military ships to take defensive positions.

Iran’s Kamikaze drones are a frightening threat to US aircraft carriers, here are 5 reasons

1. Cheap and Precise

According to Gulf News, the main value of drones: low cost vs. high value targets. For example, a drone costing USD1,000–USD20,000 could threaten:

Naval ships such as the USS Abraham Lincoln worth USD 15 billion (including air wings)

This cost imbalance is a classic asymmetric strategy.

In the Strait of Hormus, Iranian drone carriers such as the Shahid Bagheri can unleash waves of Shahed-136 “cruise munitions” along with Khalij Fars anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) and swarms of Peykaap fast attack craft.