Cheap Missiles, Not Drones, Will Win the Next Air War
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- Russia has upgraded Shahed drones with turbojet engines, boosting speed to ~460 mph and altitude to ~29,000 ft, far surpassing Ukraine’s 90 mph propeller drones.
- Ukraine relies on propeller‑driven interceptor drones limited to 280 mph, now largely ineffective against the faster jet‑Shaheds, forcing a shift to costly head‑on tactics.
- Iran unveiled the 358 missile, priced around $90,000, capable of intercepting Shahed‑type drones and larger UAVs such as the MQ‑9 Reaper, Wing Loong II, and AH‑64 Apache.
- NATO continues to fund propeller‑based UAV programs despite their diminishing utility, allocating resources to systems now outclassed by cheap missiles.
Why it matters: NATO's propeller‑drone investments falter as Russia’s turbojet Shaheds and Iran’s $90,000 358 missiles outpace them, forcing Ukraine to divert funds to pricier defenses and widening its air‑gap.
