Iran’s Air Defence Claims Heavy Drone Losses to Adversary

Brigadier General Alireza Elhami, commander of Iran’s joint air defence headquarters and the army’s air defence force, has claimed significant losses for the adversary in terms of MQ-9 Reaper drones during the Ramadan war. He described these drones as crucial for strategic reconnaissance, signals collection, and precision strikes.

Despite their capabilities, Iran’s air defence managed to reverse one-sided missions through rapid radar data processing and other innovations. Elhami highlighted that the enemy attempted to dominate the drone battlefield by deploying a large fleet of aircraft and UAVs, including MQ-9 Reapers, Hermes 900s, Orbiters, Lucas drones, and Hermes 450s.

However, Iran’s response, which included smart tactics such as dispersal, electronic deception, and precision engagement, significantly reduced the effectiveness of these strikes and weakened the enemy’s drone arm. The general also mentioned that other advanced enemy drones were targeted and destroyed during the conflict by air defence personnel from both the army and the IRGC.

He specifically named the Heron, Hermes 900, Orbiter, Hermes 450, and Lucas systems among those downed. Elhami praised the role of local communities, particularly nomadic tribes, for their cooperation with the armed forces.

He emphasized that Iran’s success extends beyond mere equipment victories and represents a redefinition of deterrence in the air domain. By disrupting the typical surveillance-identification-targeting-strike chain executed by drones, the enemy’s ability to make real-time decisions without intelligence dominance was effectively neutralized.

General Elhami stressed the importance of continuous improvements in radar infrastructure, electronic warfare capabilities, and counter-drone systems for maintaining this achievement. The general concluded that while significant gains have been made during the short period of the war, Iran remains unsatisfied and must always think about enhancing its defensive capacity regardless of what happens after the ceasefire.