Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines, warnings about Shahed drones launched by Iran in the Middle East

As the United States and its allies grapple with the growing threat posed by Iran's Shahed drones in the Middle East, Ukrainian soldiers, who have been fighting similar designs for years, say their experience on the battlefield offers essential lessons for defending against these cheap aerial weapons, Business Insider reports.

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Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze attack drones, widely used by Russia in the Ukraine war, were recently launched against US forces in the Middle East. Although Western militaries have some of the most advanced air defense systems in the world, Ukrainian troops say these systems, on their own, may not be the most effective solution against the swarms of drones launched by Iran.

Cheap drones versus sophisticated defenses

Alex Eine, the commander of a small Ukrainian drone unit, said he was surprised by reports that expensive interceptor missiles were being used to stop the Shahed drones.

“When long-range drones are flying at you, you don't shoot them down with Patriot's $3 million PAC-3 missiles,” Eine said, referring to the advanced interceptor used in the U.S. Patriot missile defense system.

Ukraine learned this lesson after years of trial and error while defending its cities and military positions against waves of Russian Geran drones. Finally, the country has developed cheaper countermeasures that can be deployed on a large scale, reducing the need to use expensive missiles.

These methods include electronic warfare systems that disrupt the drones' navigation, mobile weapons teams that shoot them down with heavy machine guns, and, increasingly, interceptor drones specifically designed to jam or disable approaching Shahed drones.

Unexpected challenges for US defense

Ukrainian soldiers said they once assumed the United States had a secret, highly effective system to stop Iranian drones.

“We were sure the US had a secret weapon,” said a sergeant with the 122nd Homeland Defense Brigade, who goes by the callsign “Fast”. “We expected to see her in action at the start of the new war.”

Instead, videos circulating online showed Iranian drones bypassing defenses and striking targets, including a US naval base in Bahrain, causing significant damage.

“Now we see it's a difficult task even for the US,” Fast said.

According to a CNN report, citing a participant in a closed-door meeting, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine told congressional leaders that the Shahed drones pose a greater challenge than originally anticipated.

The Pentagon has not commented publicly on the briefing.

Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, said the military had anticipated Iran's capabilities but acknowledged that adjustments were needed.

“We are very familiar with Iranian capabilities and have planned how to counter them from the beginning,” Cooper told a news conference. “But we continue to make adjustments.”

The drone swarm problem

One of the biggest difficulties in countering Shahed drones is their ability to attack in large groups.

“It doesn't surprise me that some Iranian drones penetrated the defense because they act like a swarm,” said Ukrainian lawmaker Maryan Zablotskyy. “It's very difficult to intercept a whole group flying at once.”

Ukraine has experienced this problem first hand. In 2025, Russian drone attacks that bypassed defenses killed over 500 civilians.

Oleksandr Skarlat, director of the Sternenko Foundation, a Ukrainian group that raises funds for combat drones, said no defense can guarantee complete protection.

“There is no such thing as a 100 percent countermeasure,” Skarlat said. “The question is no longer whether drones will penetrate, but how much it will cost to destroy them and how quickly defense systems can adapt.”

Ukraine estimates that it intercepts about 90% of the Shahed drones that are launched by Russia. While not perfect, this mode of operation allows Kiev to keep its most advanced missile systems, such as the Patriot and NASAMS, for more serious threats, such as ballistic missiles.

The rise of interceptor drones

Ukraine's fight against Shahed drones has led to rapid innovation. In 2025, the country dramatically increased production of interceptor drones – small, fast drones designed to crash Shahed drones before they reach their targets.

According to Ukrainian officials, more than 1,000 interceptor drones are produced daily.

A co-founder of the Ukrainian company Wild Hornets, which developed the popular Sting drone, said the Shahed threat has forced Ukraine to create an entirely new military branch dedicated to drone-vs-drone combat.

These interceptor drones cost between $2,300 and $6,000, much cheaper than traditional air defense missiles.

Calculation of costs

The financial aspect of drone warfare is a major factor in air defense strategies.

Shahed drones are estimated at $20,000–$50,000 each, making them relatively inexpensive weapons. Using a missile that costs millions of dollars to shoot them down creates a cost-benefit imbalance.

US officials say they are working to close that gap.

Defense Secretary Hegseth recently said the US has deployed “the most sophisticated air and missile defense system ever” and destroyed thousands of Iranian missiles and drones.

The defense network includes systems such as Patriot and THAAD, as well as naval interceptors of the SM series and fighter jets equipped with air-to-air missiles.

However, analysts note that maintaining these defenses requires extensive resources.

Dara Massicot of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace wrote that while interception rates are high, they rely on “almost constant defense patrols and land-based defense systems that are also required to intercept larger Iranian missiles.”

Admiral Cooper suggested that the US military is beginning to address the cost issue.

“In the past it was said that we shoot down a $50,000 drone with a $2 million missile,” he said. “Now, we spend time shooting down $100,000 drones with $10,000 weapons.”

He declined to provide details on the new systems implemented.

Ukraine offers assistance

Ukrainian officials say their country's experience could help the United States and other allies adapt to the evolving drone threat.

Dimko Zhluktenko, a drone pilot in the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces, said the key is adopting layered defenses based on inexpensive systems.

Taras Tymochko, who led the Dronefall project, developed to create the first interceptor drones, said these tools could become essential for defending against Shahed models globally.

“The use of interceptor drones could be the key to the challenge posed by the Shahed in the Middle East and elsewhere,” Tymochko said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently confirmed that the United States has requested assistance in countering Shahed drones in the Middle East. Reports suggest that Washington and its partners are considering purchasing Ukrainian interceptor drones.

A growing global threat

Ukrainian experts warn that the lessons extend beyond the conflicts involving Iran and Russia.

“Air defenses in the Middle East are already experiencing the intensity of Shahed attacks,” Skarlat pointed out. “Imagine what would happen if China adopted the same attack tactics with drone swarms.”

“The world is not ready for massive Iranian drone strikes,” he added.