Hole wrote:The most important drones are Orlan-10, because it is a real force multiplier for artillery, tanks and infantry, and Okhotnik, which uses the same tech as
the Su-57, with sophisticated ELINT and ECM systems and all kinds of weapons, including long-range ARM´s against air defence. All other drones are just
filling small niches. The only other drone really needed is a heavy helicopter drone to relieve Ka-52 or Mi-28 or the Su-25 from the duty of flying for half an
hour just to release some unguided rockets against a target.
Most of the iranian drones shown in the last video of that underground facility were just an a pair with the La-17 produced in the 60´s. Their other drones
will survive as long as the turkish Bakshish against an enemy with decent air defence. Iran is only using these drones because it can´t build sophisticated
combat aircraft. They needed 40 years to copy the T-5 trainer.
They have quite capable loitoring munitions, some of which have ranges that transforms them into cruise missiles.
US army can't sustain huge losses in case of an invasion. So if half of all their long range ballistic missiles hit their targets and if they manage to field 10 000 lancet like suicide drones with 1000 operators to hunt US vehicles then they will be safe.
Add to this they have plenty of anti ship missiles and mines to close the strait and lot of small range ballistic missiles in Iraq to harass US forces in the area.
Their drones may also harass US forces but they aren't game changer specially when your adversary has a far better air force.
However they lack a decent air force and their AD forces are probably too small since they have bought really low amounts of russian systems and their own production may not be as advanced as the one for ballistic missiles or drones.
IMO they have enough to face a US invasion but not enough to stop an air raid against their nuclear centers.