From Drones To Stealth Bombers: The Arms Behind The US‑Iran Clash

The United States and Iran are locked in a bitter military confrontation, with strikes and counterstrikes driving a deadly escalation across the Middle East. Both sides are deploying advanced weapons in what Washington calls Operation Epic Fury, signalling a conflict that could shape the region for years to come.

The United States maintains a highly advanced military, with capabilities in areas such as artificial intelligence, hypersonic weapons, and stealth systems. The US Central Command — CENTCOM — released details of the weapons deployed so far in the war with Iran. Let’s break down what Washington says it has used so far.

First, the most advanced platform in its arsenal — the B‑2 Spirit stealth bomber. This bat‑wing aircraft, costing more than a billion dollars apiece, is among the most sophisticated planes in the US Air Force. It can carry both conventional and nuclear payloads. With intercontinental range and mid‑air refuelling, it can strike targets almost anywhere on the planet. That is strategic reach on a global scale.

Then come the LUCAS one‑way drones. Low‑cost and reportedly inspired by Iran’s Shahed models, these systems are being used in combat for the first time. Operated by Task Force Scorpion Strike, they are built for rapid, precision attacks at a fraction of the cost of traditional systems.

At sea, aircraft carriers such as the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald R. Ford are launching F/A‑18 and F‑35 fighter jets. Guided‑missile destroyers are firing Tomahawk cruise missiles while also providing layered missile defence. On the defensive side, Patriot and THAAD systems are intercepting incoming drones and ballistic missiles, shielding bases, ships, and allied positions across the region.

After the United States and Israel carried out joint strikes on Iran on Saturday — strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior officials — Tehran moved swiftly. Iranian authorities say their retaliation has targeted Israel and US‑linked military sites across the region, including in Gulf states that host American forces.

Unlike the 12‑day conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran in June 2025, this escalation appears far more existential from Tehran’s perspective. In Iran’s narrative, restraint could be seen as weakness and an invitation for further strikes. On Sunday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described revenge for Khamenei’s killing as the country’s “duty and legitimate right.”

So how is Iran pursuing what it calls revenge? Primarily through missiles. Iran’s missile programme forms the backbone of its military capability. With one of the largest arsenals in the Middle East, Tehran relies heavily on ballistic missiles, especially given the ageing condition of its air force. Its longest‑range systems can travel between 2,000 and 2,500 kilometres — far enough to reach Israel and US‑linked bases across the Gulf.

At the shorter end of the spectrum are systems such as Fateh, Zolfaghar, Qiam‑1 and older Shahab variants, with ranges between 150 and 800 kilometres. These are designed for rapid regional retaliation. Shorter flight times mean less warning and greater difficulty for interception, especially when launched in volleys.

Then there are the medium‑range systems — Shahab‑3, Emad, Ghadr‑1, Khorramshahr and Sejjil. The Sejjil, powered by solid fuel, can be readied more quickly, reducing the window for pre‑emptive strikes. Beyond ballistic missiles, Iran fields cruise missiles such as Soumar and Hoveyzeh, designed to fly low and evade radar detection. It has also deployed waves of one‑way attack drones intended to overwhelm air defences.

Beneath the surface lies another layer — underground “missile cities” built to ensure sustained launches even after heavy bombardment. And then there is one more strategic lever: the Strait of Hormuz.

All of this signals that this conflict may not end quickly. The violence continues. Casualties mount. And a deeply unsettling question lingers — could this escalation lead to something far worse? Another “Little Boy”? Another “Fat Man”? The world can only hope the answer is no.