High-Tech Weapons in US‑Israel‑Iran Conflict

Shahed‑136 & Shahed‑131 Drones – Low‑cost loitering munitions (kamikaze drones) used in massive swarm attacks to overwhelm air‑defence systems.
Shahab‑3 Missile – Medium‑range ballistic missile, ~2,000 km range, backbone of Iran’s regional strike capability.
Fattah Missile – Claimed hypersonic missile, up to Mach 15, range ~1,400 km, maneuverable re‑entry vehicle.
Sejjil & Emad Missiles – Solid‑fuel MRBM (Sejjil) and precision‑guided long‑range BM (Emad) with maneuverable re‑entry vehicle.
Bavar‑373 – Indigenous long‑range air‑defence system, comparable to Russia’s S‑300.
Tor‑M1, Sevom‑e‑Khordad, Majid & Azarakhsh – Short‑range air‑defence suites against drones, cruise missiles and low‑flying threats.
Paveh Cruise Missile – Land‑attack cruise missile, 1,650 km range, mid‑flight course‑change capability.

B‑2 Spirit Stealth Bomber – Low‑observable platform capable of delivering the GBU‑57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) (30,000 lb bunker‑buster).
Tomahawk Cruise Missile – Sub‑sonic, GPS/INS/TERCOM/DSMAC guided, used for precision strikes on inland targets.
LUCAS (Low‑Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System) – One‑way expendable attack drone designed to counter Iranian Shahed swarms.
PrSM (Precision Strike Missile) – Short‑range ballistic missile launched from HIMARS, range up to 400 km.
THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) – Hit‑to‑kill kinetic interceptor for short‑, medium‑ and limited intermediate‑range ballistic missiles in the terminal phase.
Patriot PAC‑3, APKWS, Coyote Anti‑Drone System, SM‑3/SM‑6 – Layered air‑defence and anti‑drone capabilities.
MQ‑9 Reaper, Boeing P‑8I – ISR and precision strike platforms.

Blue Sparrow Missile – Air‑launched quasi‑ballistic missile, ~2,000 km range, briefly exits the atmosphere for harder interception.
Jericho Missile Family – Jericho‑2 (1,500‑3,000 km MRBM) and Jericho‑3 (4,800‑6,500 km IRBM) forming Israel’s strategic deterrent.
Arrow‑2 & Arrow‑3 – Ballistic‑missile‑defence; Arrow‑3 intercepts exo‑atmospheric threats.
David’s Sling – Intercepts medium‑to‑long‑range rockets, cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles.
Iron Dome & C‑Dome – Short‑range defence against rockets, artillery shells and drones; C‑Dome is the naval variant.
Iron Beam – Directed‑energy laser system for low‑cost drone and projectile neutralisation.
F‑35I “Adir” – Fifth‑generation stealth fighter enabling deep strikes while evading advanced air‑defences.

The conflict marks the first large‑scale confrontation where drone swarms and hypersonic weapons have been deployed side‑by‑side with traditional ballistic missiles.
Both the US and Israel have fielded integrated multi‑layered missile‑defence architectures (THAAD, Patriot, Arrow, Iron Dome) to protect critical assets and maintain strategic deterrence.
Iran’s emphasis on low‑cost loitering munitions reflects a doctrine of asymmetric attrition, aiming to exhaust expensive interceptor inventories.

Technology Transfer & Indigenous Development – India’s DRDO can study these systems to accelerate indigenous anti‑drone, hypersonic and missile‑defence programmes.
Strategic Stability – The proliferation of hypersonic and swarm‑drone capabilities raises the risk of rapid escalation; India must strengthen its early‑warning and command‑and‑control mechanisms.
Regional Security – Iran’s missile reach (up to 2,000 km) covers parts of the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, affecting India’s maritime security.
International Collaboration – Understanding US‑Israel defence cooperation helps India negotiate technology‑sharing agreements and align its own defence procurement strategies.

Article 253 of the Indian Constitution empowers the Union to enter into treaties and agreements concerning defence and external affairs, relevant for any future technology‑sharing pacts.
The Defence Production Policy (2022) emphasizes indigenisation, encouraging development of cost‑effective counter‑UAV and missile‑defence systems.

All data are based on publicly available sources as of March 2026.