U.S.–Israeli Strikes on Iran: Use of Drones and AI

Posted on March 2, 2026 by JimS

By Jim Shimabukuro (assisted by Copilot)
Editor

The publicly available record since 28 February 2026 shows that drones played a central, visible role in the opening waves of the joint U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran, while the role of artificial intelligence is more indirect and mostly inferred from the types of systems and operations described. The Institute for the Study of War’s running assessment of the campaign notes that U.S. and Israeli forces launched a broad strike effort aimed at Iranian leadership, air defenses, missile and drone infrastructure, and command-and-control nodes, implying a heavy reliance on networked surveillance, targeting, and battle management systems that almost certainly incorporate AI-enabled data fusion and decision-support, even if officials do not label them as such in public statements.1 Chatham House’s early expert commentary similarly frames the operation as a technologically sophisticated attempt to decapitate Iran’s leadership and degrade its strike capabilities, but it does not provide granular detail on specific AI tools, underscoring how the most sensitive aspects of targeting and command systems remain classified.2

Image created by Gemini

On the U.S. side, the clearest, concrete evidence concerns drones themselves. U.S. Central Command’s press release on the launch of Operation Epic Fury confirms strikes on Iranian missile and drone launch sites, air defenses, and military airfields, but focuses on objectives and target sets rather than platforms or algorithms.3 [USNI News] Subsequent defense reporting fills in some of that picture: aviation and defense outlets describe a large air package including bombers, fighters, support aircraft, and unmanned systems, indicating that drones were integrated into a broader air campaign rather than used as a standalone tool.4,5

What stands out is the debut of the LUCAS system (Low-Cost Unmanned Combat Attack System), a one-way attack drone or loitering munition modeled on Iran’s own Shahed-136. Technical briefings and news coverage after the strikes state that LUCAS was used operationally for the first time in Epic Fury, functioning as a low-cost, expendable precision weapon that can loiter over target areas before diving onto predesignated or updated coordinates.6,7 While open sources describe LUCAS as “autonomous” in flight and target approach, they also emphasize that it is a one-way munition launched under human direction, with no evidence that it was allowed to select targets entirely on its own; this suggests AI is embedded mainly in navigation, guidance, and possibly swarm coordination, not in independent lethal decision-making.6,7

Israeli participation appears to have relied on a mix of crewed aircraft and long-standing families of loitering munitions and reconnaissance drones, consistent with Israel’s established doctrine of using unmanned systems for suppression of air defenses, battlefield surveillance, and precision strikes. The U.S. Naval Institute’s detailed account of the first day of strikes notes that Israel conducted “decapitation” attacks on senior Iranian leaders and hit multiple military targets across the country, again implying extensive use of persistent ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) and precision-guided munitions, but it does not enumerate specific drone models or AI tools.3

The broader overview of the 2026 Israeli–U.S. strikes on Iran likewise lists drones among the capabilities used by both sides and highlights attacks on Iranian drone infrastructure, but it treats AI only implicitly, as part of modern command, control, and targeting systems rather than as a distinct, named capability.8 Given Israel’s long history with loitering munitions such as Harop and Harpy, and its investment in AI-enhanced image analysis and target recognition, many experts infer that Israeli drones in this campaign likely used AI for tasks like automatic target cueing, route optimization, and electronic-warfare support, while still keeping humans in the loop for lethal engagement decisions. This remains an inference, however, because neither Israeli nor U.S. official sources have publicly confirmed specific AI-enabled targeting features for particular platforms in this operation.

Beyond the physical drones, AI’s most significant—but least visible—role is likely in the information and cyber domains. Cybersecurity and threat-intelligence analyses of Operation Epic Fury describe a tightly coupled campaign in which kinetic strikes, cyber operations, and psychological operations unfolded in parallel, targeting Iranian command networks, information systems, and public perception.9 These reports point to coordinated cyberattacks on Iranian infrastructure and information operations across social media, areas where AI tools are now routinely used for intrusion detection, malware analysis, automated exploitation, and large-scale content generation or amplification.

While no open-source document explicitly states “AI was used in these cyber operations,” the techniques described—rapid adaptation to Iranian defenses, large-volume information campaigns, and cross-domain coordination—are consistent with the integration of machine learning for threat detection, network mapping, and influence-operations analytics.9 Similarly, the scale and tempo of the air campaign, involving hundreds of aircraft and complex deconfliction of missiles, drones, and crewed platforms, almost certainly relied on AI-assisted battle management and predictive analytics to prioritize targets, manage airspace, and anticipate Iranian responses, even though official briefings frame these capabilities in generic terms like “advanced command-and-control.”3,4

Taken together, the best-supported conclusion from post–28 February 2026 sources is that drones were a prominent and openly acknowledged component of the Israeli–U.S. attack on Iran, including the first combat use of a new U.S. loitering munition and likely extensive use of Israeli unmanned systems for surveillance and precision strikes.6,7,8 AI, by contrast, is woven into the background: embedded in drone guidance, ISR processing, targeting support, cyber operations, and command-and-control, but rarely named explicitly in public documents. Where officials and mainstream analyses are specific, they talk about drones, loitering munitions, and cyberattacks; where they are vague—“advanced systems,” “integrated networks,” “defending against hundreds of missiles and drones”—experts reasonably infer AI-enabled tools, while acknowledging that the precise degree of autonomy and the rules governing human control remain classified.1,2,3,9

Iran’s drone and presumed AI capabilities

Iran entered the conflict with one of the world’s most extensive and combat‑proven drone arsenals, ranging from small reconnaissance UAVs to long‑range one‑way attack systems such as the Shahed‑131/136 family, the Arash series, and more advanced platforms capable of coordinated mass‑launch operations. The Joint Institute for National Security Affairs’ February 2026 assessment describes Iran’s drone force as a “central pillar” of its asymmetric strategy, noting its ability to launch large salvos of loitering munitions, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles in coordinated waves designed to saturate regional air defenses.12

Iran’s rapid retaliatory strikes after the Israeli‑U.S. attack confirm this assessment: within 36 hours, Tehran launched “hundreds of missiles and drones” across the region, forcing Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, the UAE, and others to activate layered air‑defense networks with mixed success.10 The U.S. State Department’s joint statement with Gulf and Arab partners likewise condemned Iran’s “indiscriminate and reckless missile and drone attacks” across multiple states, underscoring both the scale and the regional breadth of Iran’s retaliatory capabilities.11

Although Iran does not publicly describe its systems as “AI‑enabled,” many analysts infer that its more sophisticated drones incorporate algorithmic navigation, target‑recognition assistance, and autonomous flight‑path optimization. This inference is based on the demonstrated behavior of Iranian drones in Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, and the Gulf, where they have shown the ability to follow pre‑programmed terrain‑hugging routes, re‑vector mid‑flight, and coordinate timing with missile salvos. The JINSA report emphasizes that Iran’s drone program has evolved toward “increasing autonomy, longer ranges, and improved precision,” even if the exact degree of AI integration remains classified or undisclosed.12 Iran’s ability to launch large, synchronized barrages in March 2026—some of which penetrated to urban areas before interception—suggests at least semi‑autonomous mission‑planning and guidance systems, even if final target selection remains pre‑programmed rather than dynamically AI‑driven.10

Despite this sophistication, Iran’s defensive use of drones and AI during the initial Israeli‑U.S. strikes appears to have been limited and largely ineffective. The first wave of Operation Epic Fury targeted Iranian air‑defense radars, command‑and‑control nodes, drone launch sites, and missile infrastructure, degrading Iran’s ability to coordinate a real‑time drone defense.13, 14 The scale and precision of the U.S.–Israeli attack—supported by stealth aircraft, electronic warfare, cyber operations, and loitering munitions—overwhelmed Iranian defensive networks before they could mount a coherent drone‑based response. This aligns with earlier assessments that Iran’s drone strength lies primarily in offensive saturation attacks rather than in integrated air‑defense roles.12 Flashpoint’s cyber‑domain analysis further indicates that Iranian command networks were disrupted during the strikes, likely reducing Iran’s ability to deploy defensive drones or AI‑assisted countermeasures in the opening hours.17

Iran’s ongoing “revenge” attacks since the strikes have indeed been heavily drone‑facilitated, though not necessarily AI‑driven in the sense of autonomous targeting. Breaking Defense reports that Iran has continued to “unload drones and missiles” across the Gulf, creating what regional analysts call a “nightmare scenario” for states with dense urban populations and critical infrastructure.10 These attacks rely on mass‑launch tactics rather than advanced AI, attempting to overwhelm air defenses through volume. However, Iran’s ability to coordinate timing, vary flight paths, and combine drones with ballistic and cruise missiles suggests algorithmic planning tools that approximate low‑level AI‑enabled mission management.12 The U.S. and its partners have intercepted the majority of these projectiles, but not all, demonstrating that Iran’s drone arsenal remains a persistent threat even after significant infrastructure losses.10,11

Looking ahead, the extent to which Israeli‑U.S. forces and regional allies are expected to suffer from Iran’s drone and AI‑related weapons depends on three factors: the survivability of Iran’s remaining launch infrastructure, its ability to reconstitute command‑and‑control networks, and the continued availability of mass‑produced loitering munitions. The early days of the conflict show that Iran can still mount large‑scale drone attacks despite heavy losses, and its drones remain capable of penetrating or at least stressing even advanced air‑defense systems.10,12

However, the neutralization of key Iranian air‑defense and drone‑production facilities, combined with ongoing cyber pressure, has reduced Iran’s ability to coordinate more sophisticated or AI‑enhanced operations.13,17 In short, Iran’s drone threat remains significant—especially in saturation attacks—but its AI‑related capabilities appear limited to navigation, coordination, and pre‑programmed mission execution rather than fully autonomous targeting. The risk to Israeli‑U.S. forces and regional allies is therefore real but manageable, provided that integrated air‑defense networks remain intact and that Iran does not regain full command‑and‑control capacity in the coming weeks.

References

  1. “Iran Update: US and Israeli Strikes, February 28, 2026” – Institute for the Study of War. https://www.understandingwar.org
  2. “US and Israel attack Iran, killing Khamenei. Tehran launches counterstrikes: Early analysis from Chatham House experts” – Chatham House. https://www.chathamhouse.org
  3. “U.S., Israel Launch Strikes Against Iran, Tehran Retaliates Across Region” – USNI News. https://news.usni.org
  4. “How did US launch attack on Iran? Planes, targets and cyberattacks” – USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com
  5. “Operation Epic Fury: How the US and Israel’s coordinated attack on Iran unfolded” – (defence aviation report). https://www.simpleflying.com
  6. “LUCAS: America’s First Combat Loitering Munition” – RobotToday. https://robottoday.com
  7. “LUCAS drone makes combat debut in US strikes on Iran” – Israel Hayom. https://www.israelhayom.com
  8. “2026 Israeli–United States strikes on Iran” – Wikipedia (2026 Iran conflict). https://en.wikipedia.org
  9. “Escalation in the Middle East: Tracking ‘Operation Epic Fury’ Across Military and Cyber Domains” – Flashpoint. https://flashpoint.io
  10. “‘Nightmare scenario’ for GCC countries, region as Iran unloads drones and missiles” – Breaking Defense. https://breakingdefense.com
  11. “Joint Statement on Iran’s Missile and Drone Attacks in the Region” – U.S. Department of State. https://www.state.gov
  12. “Iran’s Evolving Missile and Drone Threat” – JINSA Gemunder Center (Feb 2026). https://jinsa.org
  13. “UPDATED: U.S., Israel Launch Strikes Against Iran, Tehran Retaliates Across Region” – USNI News. https://news.usni.org
  14. “PrSM Ballistic Missiles, Lucas drones, B-2 bombers: The weapons deployed by US in Iran” – Firstpost. https://www.firstpost.com
  15. “US confirms first combat use of LUCAS one-way attack drone in Iran strikes” – Military Times. https://www.militarytimes.com
  16. “LUCAS drone makes combat debut in US strikes on Iran” – Israel Hayom. https://www.israelhayom.com
  17. “Escalation in the Middle East: Tracking ‘Operation Epic Fury’ Across Military and Cyber Domains” – Flashpoint. https://flashpoint.io
  18. “2026 Israeli–United States strikes on Iran” – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org

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