Iran and the new equation of war: from drone strikes to competition for underground survival.
Like UAVs, Iran's military equations and strong underground networks forced the armies to redefine their concept of war on the "axis of survival".
In a recently published report, the military online platform that publishes reports and analyzes on American military news, security and national security issues, addressed the issue of the underground bases of the Islamic Republic of Iran and their importance in the war with the United States, noting that the threat to military bases now more than ever stems from cheap, abundantly available and difficult-to-deal with weapons. The issue came to the fore in October 2026 when the United States withdrew its B-1 bombers from the base after receiving information about a possible Iranian drone attack on the British Royal Air Force base at Fairford, the website said. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham later said the suspected plan targeting the base was "almost certainly" planned by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The event illustrates an issue raised by Asher Katz, co-founder and chief product manager of the Austin-based defense company Tracer, in an interview with Militari: Modern armies have become highly capable of attacking targets, but maintaining expensive aircraft, communication systems, ammunition and other critical infrastructure during a protracted conflict is a different challenge. "We are very excited to see the new equipment," Katz said. "For example, we say, look at this plane, look at this UAV. But anyone who really understands military doctrine knows that what wins wars is the ability of the troops, equipment and infrastructure to withstand attacks and the ability to continue. ".
The threat goes far beyond possible Iranian action. In a US military exercise held at Fort Bragg in September, soldiers tested sensors, electronic warfare equipment, command and control networks, and air defenses against coordinated attacks by groups of up to 100 drones.