Iran Claims $20K Shahed-136 Drone Destroyed $300M U.S. E-3 AWACS; China, India Race to Copy Design

Russia’s extensive use of the low-cost Shahed-136 kamikaze drones in Ukraine has emerged as one of the most consequential developments in modern warfare, altering the economics and tactics of new-age fighting. In its most recent and, perhaps, the biggest victory, the Shahed-136 reportedly destroyed a US Air Force (USAF) E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control […] In fact, as part of a US$1.75 billion agreement in 2023, Iran allowed Russia to manufacture these drones domestically. Known as Geran-2 in their Russian variant, they are manufactured at the Alabuga drone factory and at an unidentified location in Iz... [8499 chars]