Shahed Drones: The Cheap Weapon Changing Middle East War

Cheap drones are rapidly transforming the battlefield in the Middle East conflict. Iran’s Shahed drones, already used extensively in the Ukraine war, are now emerging as a major threat in the Gulf theatre as well. In a striking development, the United States and several Gulf nations are turning to Ukraine for help, seeking the anti-drone technologies Kyiv developed while countering Russian attacks using Iranian-made drones. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that Washington reached out for assistance on countering these drones. Countries including Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE are also exploring Ukrainian interceptor drone systems developed by Ukrainian manufacturers. In this explainer, Shiv Aroor breaks down how low-cost drones are reshaping modern warfare, why the Shahed drone has become such a formidable weapon, and how Ukraine’s battlefield innovations are now influencing defence strategies far beyond Europe.