Amid estimates that Iran possesses tens of thousands of Shahed drones, this weaponry is playing a pivotal role in the expanding conflict in the Middle East. Recently released footage from Iranian media appears to show vast supplies stored in underground production facilities, signaling Iran's capacity to deploy these assets long-term. Drones have been used in several Middle Eastern countries this week, with Tehran claiming to attack United States assets in retaliation for a war allegedly initiated by the US and Israel, which it says has killed over 1,000 people and seen its supreme leader assassinated.

In Ukraine, drone technology has been utilized on battlefields for four years since Russia's full-scale invasion began. Ukrainians now assert they have developed effective countermeasures. In a muddy field, the location undisclosed for security reasons, young men test a weapon they hope never to use, illustrating how, despite ceasefire hopes, Ukraine is preparing for a protracted war against Russia.

Battlefield lessons are no longer confined to Ukraine, as a new, broader war engulfs the Middle East. With Iranian-designed drones appearing in skies amid the conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran, Kyiv is emerging as an unlikely source of solutions. Central to this shift is cost. Recent attacks across the Gulf have seen million-dollar air-defense missiles used to destroy drones worth no more than $50,000.

Ukraine's response is a system born of necessity, using interceptor drones designed to collide midair with incoming threats at a fraction of the cost. A spokesperson for Skyfall, a private Ukrainian manufacturer, stated the interceptor system was first deployed about four months ago. Their P1-SUN interceptor drone travels up to 310 km/h, with its entire body, antenna, head, wings, and payload compartment 3D-printed, making it cheap and easy to mass-produce.

Regarding repelling Shahed drones, the spokesperson emphasized Ukraine's unique suitability: "We've been dealing with this problem for over four years already. We know all the types of Shaheds that Russia deploys." This expertise stems from experience. Iranian-made drones have caused extensive damage across Ukraine, but in recent years, Ukraine has focused on intercepting them. According to Ukrainian officials, over the winter alone, Russia launched more than 19,000 attack drones at Ukraine, and in 2025, Moscow deployed 54,000 Shahed-type drones, renamed Geran-3, against the country.

Now Kyiv is offering this hard-earned experience abroad. Since Monday, Ukraine has provided assistance to partners seeking cost-effective air defense technologies. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump told Reuters he would accept help from any country when asked about Ukraine's offer to aid in defending against Iranian drones. That same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv had received a specific request from the US for help in dealing with drones in the Middle East, and he had given instructions to provide necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists.

At the testing ground, the Skyfall spokesperson offered blunt advice to the world: "They have to understand that interceptor drones are parts of the defense strategy of every country, and it has to be implemented right now. Not only the drones, but the whole ecosystem."

Source: www.aljazeera.com