For the first time, America introduces advanced weapons into its war against Iran.
Reports issued by the US Department of Defense on Wednesday stated that the United States used a number of its modern combat systems for the first time during ongoing military operations against Iran, in a move that reflects a shift in the nature of warfare and the military technology used on the battlefields.
According to reports, “recent operations have seen the use of more than 20 different US military systems, including modern weapons that underwent their first real test in combat conditions.”
One of the most prominent of these systems is the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), a surface-to-surface ballistic missile launched from HIMARS platforms, with a range of between 400 and 500 kilometers, exceeding the range of the ATACMS missile, which reaches about 300 kilometers. The missile is characterized by high accuracy and a warhead weighing between 90 and 200 kilograms, in addition to a high speed of about 6,000 kilometers per hour.
The United States also used for the first time in this war “low-cost LUCAS attack drones, which cost about $35,000 each and have a range of about 800 kilometers with the ability to fly for up to six hours before hitting the target. These drones were used to target Iranian military installations, including radar sites and ballistic missile platforms.”
In the field of air defense, the US military has resorted to “using Coyote drones to intercept attack drones instead of expensive Patriot missiles, as the newer versions rely on technologies such as electromagnetic pulses to disable swarms of drones without detonating them.”
The upgraded version of the Tomahawk missile (Tomahawk Block V) also entered combat use for the first time, as it was launched by US Navy ships to target and track Iranian ships at sea. The missile features a special coating that reduces its radar signature and enhances its ability to remain stealthy during flight.
These developments indicate that “the introduction of these advanced systems represents a field test of modern American military technology, at a time when precision missiles, drones and low-cost solutions are becoming increasingly important in modern warfare.”
Shafaq.com