U.S. forces have plans to cease Iran ballistic missiles and drone swarm techniques

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Ayatollah Khamenei on X ramped up threats to ship U.S. warships to the underside of the ocean. "People continuously say that they’ve despatched a warship towards Iran. After all, a warship is a harmful piece of army {hardware}. Nonetheless, extra harmful than that warship is the weapon that may ship that warship to the underside of the ocean," he (or his minions) tweeted Feb 17.

Admiral Brad Cooper, who’s answerable for United States Central Command, has forces to counter Iran, and to hold out strikes in that case ordered. Sadly, Iran has taken American lives through the years, and now the regime is determined. With the airspace laid naked by assaults on built-in air defenses previous to Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran has little means to defend in opposition to stealth plane.

Depend on Iran attempting to hit U.S. ships and bases.

Listed here are the 4 prime techniques within the ayatollah’s arsenal – and the way the U.S. will battle again.

US MILITARY WARNS IRAN IT WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY 'UNSAFE' ACTIONS AHEAD OF LIVE-FIRE DRILLS IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ

Vessels of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps are seen throughout a ceremony marking Nationwide Persian Gulf Day close to Bushehr, Iran, on April 29, 2024. (Shadati/Xinhua through Getty Photos)

Ballistic missiles Iran launched short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in opposition to the U.S. airbase at Al Udeid, in Qatar, on June 23, 2025. A skeleton crew of American troopers with two Patriot missile batteries intercepted Iran’s missiles. "We imagine that that is the most important single Patriot engagement in U.S. army historical past," stated Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Employees Normal Dan Caine in a Pentagon briefing the subsequent day.

The U.S. Area Power will as soon as once more be on alert to detect the warmth of Iranian missile launches and cue the goal tracks. Iran’s ballistic missiles can assault a number of targets, however U.S. forces are able to intercept. In 2024, American Navy destroyers crusing within the japanese Mediterranean nailed Iranian missiles with nose-on photographs. They used Normal Missile SM-3, each the older Block 1 and the wide-coverage Block 2A. SM-3 is a hit-to-kill weapon: it smashed Iran’s missiles at 65,000 toes, within the exo-atmosphere, utilizing simply the 600-mph velocity. Bullet hits bullet. That’s why Navy destroyers are fanned out from the Med to the North Arabian Gulf.

IRAN TO HOLD LIVE-FIRE DRILLS IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ WITH US ARMADA IN MIDDLE EAST

Drones Iran manufactures numerous drones, however they'll die in the event that they tangle with U.S. forces. A Marine Corps fighter pilot flying an F-35C from the plane service USS Abraham Lincoln shot down certainly one of Iran’s Shahed drones on Feb. 3. That was a Shahed-139 surveillance drone, which additionally carries glide bombs and might loiter for as much as 24 hours. It acquired too near the plane service, as Central Command put it.

Victory credit score goes to the "Black Knights" of Marine Fighter Assault Squadron VMFA-314, as reported by USNI Information. The drone kill was straightforward work for the F-35C, with its delicate, long-range radar and vectoring by Navy E-2D radar planes, which fly with a large dish radar to type out good guys and unhealthy guys. Ahead surveillance by the E-2Ds can be important if Iran launches waves of drones towards U.S. ships. The usGerald R. Ford en route might add choices for day and evening fight air patrols in opposition to drones and missiles.

MORNING GLORY: PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S MOST IMPORTANT DECISION IS COMING

If the assault is over land, search for the U.S. Air Power to pounce. During the last two years, American pilots have turn out to be masters of anti-drone techniques. It began when U.S. Air Power F-15E "Strike Eagles" from an undisclosed Mideast base shot down waves of Iranian drones in April 2024. At one level, crew chiefs got here out of bunkers whereas the bottom was beneath fireplace to drag the arming pins on weapons earlier than the F-15Es took off. They're able to do it once more.

Swarming boats CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps navy has an extended historical past of harassment with small boats, and so they prefer to boast about their workout routines with "swarms" of boats. That’s over. Iran thug small boats can’t kind as much as "swarm" beneath the fixed eye – and weapons – of this many U.S. ships and planes. Foolishly, two Iranian small boats and a drone tried to "swarm" a Swedish tanker carrying gasoline for U.S. forces. How did that work out? Properly, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS McFaul ran them off, as Air Power land-based fighter planes zoomed out to help.

Cruise missiles CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Iran is full of cruise missiles of varied varieties. Their low, snaking path makes them troublesome targets. The excellent news is the U.S. Navy has executed numerous goal apply on Houthi missiles , like when the destroyer USS Gravely deployed its "C-whiz" Phalanx Shut-In Weapon System in opposition to a sea-skimming Houthi missile one mile from the ship again on Jan. 30, 2024. Sometimes, Navy missiles just like the SM-6 and the Developed Sea Sparrow can nail the cruise missiles a dozen miles out. F-35 fighters are good at chasing down cruise missiles, too.

U.S. forces have the sting over the ayatollah’s arsenal. However make no mistake. This can be a fight zone. Fixed vigilance can be key to survival. Navy sailors and the airmen, Marines, troopers and Area Power Guardians will really feel the strain and depth of 24/7 operations. Maintainers and floor crews at land bases have jets to gasoline, arm and launch, even in opposition to incoming drones and missiles. Power safety is prime precedence and the explanation for the sheer variety of forces now in U.S. Central Command. You may see why Trump has lengthy sought curbs on Iran’s missile arsenal, and why missile and drone manufacturing websites are probably prime of the goal listing for U.S. forces if diplomacy fails.