Thread by @TrentTelenko

A lot of Western analysts haven't noticed Iran has both deployed & exported a jet powered drone as an anti-drone munition against high altitude long endurance drones.

This is utter bad news for Western airborne/helicopter assault/marine infantry.

Power projection vs drones🧵
1/

https://twitter.com/IranDefense/status/1723849084165837022

The Iranian 358 loitering drone that can kill a MQ-1 at up 25,000 altitude, can also kill a UH-60 or a V-22 delivering troops or a C-130 dropping paratroopers.

100% of all Western VTOL or fixed wing troop carriers will need a blinding laser infrared countermeasures system.

2/

The Iranian 358 loitering munition debuted in 2020 in numbers with a highly publicized specific anti-US Special Forces MV-22 Osprey mission in the marketing.

_BEFORE_ the jet powered US Coyote Block 2 anti-drone munition was deployed.

3/

https://x.com/IranObserver0/status/1704488175727489293

Iranian "358" loitering munition certainly has the kinematic legs to run down Western troop carriers while deploying troops & with a man-in-the-loop for the thermal sensor, traditional IR flares are marginal to useless.

It's blinding lasers or nothing
4/

https://x.com/Pataramesh/status/1244193271473221632

The 358 loitering munition requires neither a radar nor easily identified SAM launch infrastructure.

A 358 rail on a "technical" or dropped off by a pickup truck somewhere is darned hard to spot before launch.

5/

https://x.com/mhmiranusa/status/1504105584714555399

Although Iran _is_ trying to sell the 358 loitering munitions to Russia in a SAM canister form, rather than a on-a-rail "technical" version the Houthi and pro-Iranian Iraqi & Syrian militia's use.

6/

https://x.com/IranDefense/status/1704466394908102715

The 358 "technical version" has simply proven superior against Western intelligence surveillance & reconnaissance (ISR) in avoiding detection before launch.

7/

https://x.com/AuroraIntel/status/1796896584568889593

I view this Iranian container technological wrinkle as a Persian marketing ploy to get gullible Russians to bite.

I mean, have you all seen the per unit price of the Shaheds the Persians negotiated with the Russians?🤣🤣🤣

8/

Admittedly the Russians are more concerned/fearful about needing deep launcher magazines against Ukrainian OWA Drone/propeller cruise missile streams than nailing a Western troop transport on a guerilla basis.🤔

9/

https://x.com/CovertShores/status/1775181068355678637

Russia certainly isn't lacking in targets to protect from Ukrainian OWA drone/propeller cruise missiles.

The key thing about Russia possibly adopting the 358 loitering munition is the mass proliferation threat it represents to Western light infantry.

10/

https://x.com/plichta_marcel/status/1764590668104507626

Traditional suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) and Offensive Counter air operations are not geared to counter a 350 knot anti-aircraft loitering munition with a passive 'man-in-the-loop' sensor and passive target acquisition.

11/

USAF cargo planes are usually the last in line for advanced blinding laser IR missile countermeasures.

Using C-17's for Ranger/82nd Airborne Division paradrops simply won't happen in contested airspace until after this threat is fully and comprehensively addressed.

12/

The mass emergence of anti-aircraft loitering drone munitions likely means the end of current generation cargo aircraft/VTOL delivered intervention infantry in medium intensity combat in the 21st Century.

New generation low observable aerial troop carriers are needed.
13/13 End

@threadreaderapp unroll please