Israel-Iran conflict: Israeli drone downed and smashed in Iran
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As a deadly aerial war rages between Israel and Iran for a ninth consecutive day, one image has highlighted the evolving face of modern warfare.
Long-simmering tensions between the two nations came to a head on June 13 when Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran, deploying drones and jets in a blistering air campaign aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons – an ambition it denies.
Iran struck back, launching over 100 drones towards Israel, almost 1500 kilometres away.
In the nine days since, hundreds of missiles and drones have been exchanged between the two countries, with some successfully managing to break through Israel's Iron Dome – one of the most sophisticated air defence systems in the world.
An unnamed Israeli military official told AFP on Wednesday Iran had fired around 400 ballistic missiles and 1000 drones since Friday.
This week, Iranian armed forces released a photo claiming to show a smashed Israeli drone after it had been downed in the central Iranian city of Isfahan by a surface-to-air missile.
The photo showed the reality of drone use in modern warfare - with the large and mechanically complex aircraft arguably different to what most Australians may imagine.
The drone was downed in the Iranian city of Isfahan. Picture: Iranian Army Media Office / AFP
It had been hit by a surface-to-air missile. Picture: Iranian Army Media Office / AFP
In a statement on Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the done 'fell in Iran' and said no injuries had been reported.
'There is no risk of an information breach,' it added.
The IDF confirmed the done 'fell in Iran'. Picture: Iranian Armed Forces via AP
The drone appeared large and very mechanically complex. Picture: Iranian Armed Forces via AP
Israel smuggles drones into Iran
Before launching its surprise attack, Israel reportedly spent months smuggling drones into Iran.
Unnamed sources familiar with the operation told the Wall Street Journal the drones were hidden in trucks, shipping containers and even suitcases.
'When Israel's attack began, some of the teams took out air defences, while others hit missile launchers as they rolled out of their shelters and set up to fire,' the publication reported, citing one of the sources.
The operation worked.
By dismantling air defence systems, Israel had 'managed to establish air superiority over western parts of Iran and Tehran within days,' Dr Oleksandra Molloy, a Senior Lecturer in Aviation at the University of NSW (Canberra) told news.com.au.
Since then, Dr Molloy said Israel has been largely relying on air power 'like the fleet of fighter jets, including F-35i, F-15, F-16 and launching air-to-ground long-range missiles and glide bombs striking Iranian air defence systems'.
Iran comparatively has 'relatively weaker fighters' fleet, both in quantity and quality,' she said. 'Most of the Iranian fighters are Russian MIG-29 and Sukhoi aircraft, as well as 1979 American made ones, F-5B, F-5E, F-5F, and F-14 Tomcats.'
But while Iranian jets are far behind the 'sophisticated capabilities of Israeli jets', Dr Molloy said the country has a 'strong arsenal of ballistic cruise missiles'.
'Hence, Iran is using both drones and missiles to strike Israel.'
Iran Shahed's drones
Since the start of the conflict, Dr Molloy said Iran's drone strategy has been to 'saturate Israeli air defence networks and confuse radar operations'.
During its campaign, the nation has been using its homemade Shahed drones, which it has sent to Russia to fight its war in Ukraine.
The noisy drones – which have been nicknamed 'flying mopeds', cost between $US20,000 to $US50,000 ($31,000 to $77,250), according to Scientific American.
Dr Molloy said Iran has been using a variety of Shahed's ranging from 'one-way suicide drones or combat UAVs and long-range, multi-mission platform', as well as 'Arash-2, long-range loitering munition, capable of striking high-value targets'.
One of the drones – the Shahed 136 – stretches 3.5m long and has a 2.5m wingspan.
Lightweight, it is comprised of mostly foam and plywood, and has a range of more than 1500 miles (2414km).
A Shahed drone lies on the ground after a Russian strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. Picture: AP Photo/Kateryna Klochko
Ukraines spiderweb drone assault
Drones are becoming increasingly popular in modern warfare.
'Drone use has been extensive in the Nagorno-Karabakh war, Russo-Ukraine, Syria, Iraq against ISIS, Gaza, the Hezbollah Israel war in 2024 and now,' Associate Professor Ahmed Hashim, an expert in war studies in the Middle East for Deakin University, told news.com.au.
But while drones are cost-effective, and can be used for a range of purposes from surveillance to targeted strikes, Dr Hashim noted 'long-distance drones are slow and provide the target with plenty of warning time'.
He said drones are more potent when used with infiltration by special teams such as in Ukraine's 'Spider Web' assault earlier this month.
The assault, which took 18 months to plan and execute, saw Ukraine smuggle drones across the Russian border hidden in trucks, which then drove to the sites of military bases.
Footage shows drone after drone hammering Russia's nuclear bomber fleet. Picture: Security Service of Ukraine
At a co-ordinated moment, the trucks released their drones, which then attack while being controlled remotely.
'Planning, organisation, every detail was perfectly executed. It can be said with confidence that this was an absolutely unique operation,' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said after the assault.
In the immediate aftermath of the operation, Ukraine's security forces claimed to have taken out about a third of Russia's strategic bombers, partially crippling Vladimir Putin's capacity to launch long-distance missile strikes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 'every detail was perfectly executed' in his 'Spider Web' attack on Russia this month. Picture: Security Service of Ukraine
Lieutenant General Vasyl Malyuk, head of the Security Service, puts the tally at 41 aircraft, encompassing both Tu-95 and Tu-22 bombers.
According to American military correspondent David Axe, the Ukrainian attacks on Russian bases appeared to have diminished Russia's already dwindling supply of A-50s – an expensive type of surveillance aircraft, equipped with a powerful radar, whose chief purpose is to co-ordinate operations involving fighter jets and bombers.
Drones changing the battlefield
In recent years, Dr Molloy said drones have transitioned from being an 'observer in the skies for surveillance an reconnaissance' to 'an active combatant'.
'The UAVs used in the war in Ukraine has altered the dynamics of military operations, offering unique tactical advantages and enhanced the operational efficiency in various combat scenarios,' she said.
The remains of a drone that fell in Syria on June 14, 2025. Picture: Sam Hariri/AFP
She believes drones will play a part in the future of warfare, with other nations inevitably having to adopt and invest in both crewed and unscrewed systems.
'Depending on the context of operations, uncrewed systems provide an asymmetric advantage over more expensive asset, and combined with sophisticated systems on board, well-trained operators and continuously evolving tactics, successes will be seen,' she said.
'The future of modern warfare will see a combination of sophisticated technologies, various tactics of operation, and excellent intelligence. These include stealth sophisticated fighter jets, missiles and drones, as well as layered defence systems to protect against them.'
While Dr Hashim doesn't think drones are the future of warfare, he agrees they are 'important and are going to be critical to any arsenal'.
'(Drones) are part of a growing basket of emerging disruptive technologies that are changing the character of warfare such as Artificial Intelligence.'
Originally published as Drones rain down in Israel-Iran
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