The other day I came across an article on Russia’s use of Iranian made drones in the war. Apparently, Iran has a family of military drones some of which are simple bomb carrying drones which can be unleashed in packs, so that even if an air-defense system manages to shoot down most of them, there will always be one or two that could go through and cause damage. And since these are cheap and easy-to-make drones, armies can afford a low success rate. The article then picked up on Ukraine’s successful use of drones and their skills in using Turkish made drones to attack Russian forces.
This post, however, is not about the technical details or military value of drones. It is about this odd situation that a war between Russia and Ukraine, which has been heralded as the war that established the value of drones in general and ‘kamikaze’ drones, in particular, has become the showcase of Turkish and Iranian military drones. What will the world think of next?!
I recall years ago, when Iran was under full sanction from the UN, Europeans were trying to get their pistachios from Turkey, because they were the closest in taste and texture to the Iranian pistachios, which were banned officially. And a year later, Turkish pomegranate was trying to replace Iranian ones in Europe for similar reasons.
Move a few years forward and Iran and Turkey are battling it out in the arms market in Europe’s war zone. I guess that’s what you call natural evolution and progress: from fruits & vegetables to weapons & arms.
Paris, October 6, 2022
Zeejay