Top U.S. Air Force General Wants “Iron Dome” to Defend Against Suicide Drones

The U.S. Air Force is urging improvements to the proposed "Iron Dome"-style missile defense system to ensure it can intercept not just long-range missiles but also low-cost suicide drones that are increasingly shaping modern warfare.

“It’s fascinating to consider a layered defense system that could counter not only ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missiles, but also more agile and short-range threats like drones,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin during a press briefing.

The “Iron Dome” project — announced by former President Donald Trump — is envisioned as a multi-tiered shield capable of detecting and intercepting large-scale ballistic missile attacks, including those potentially carrying nuclear warheads, as well as hypersonic weapons that are fast and highly maneuverable.

But recent developments on the battlefield may force a rethink. A massive drone strike by Ukraine on multiple Russian air bases has exposed critical vulnerabilities in conventional military defense strategies — and raised questions in Washington. The U.S. currently lacks hardened shelters for all of its strategic bombers, and many aircraft remain exposed in easily visible locations.

“That strike is going to spark conversations,” said Gen. Allvin. “We have to recognize that even the most secure facilities might not be immune. We need to pay closer attention to what we previously thought were safe zones.”

The U.S. military has already encountered several incidents involving unidentified drones near sensitive bases, including Langley Air Force Base and the world’s largest naval base at Norfolk. These drone incursions have proven difficult to trace and are further complicated by legal restrictions on how the military is allowed to respond domestically.

Western analysts warn that U.S. adversaries may study Ukraine’s drone playbook and adopt similar tactics in future attacks — escalating concerns about the vulnerability of American airbases both at home and abroad.

Gen. Allvin called the Ukrainian drone strike a “wake-up call,” saying the need to harden U.S. bases has long been acknowledged and included in Pentagon budget drafts. “The challenge,” he added, “is deciding how to prioritize our resources.”

While some forward-deployed bases have already received upgraded defensive capabilities, the general cautioned that simply playing defense is not a sustainable strategy. “If all we’re doing is defending and can’t strike back, then that’s not a smart use of money,” he said.

(Sources: Business Insider, AFP, AP)

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