Resistance factions in the Middle East have acquired loitering surface-to-air missiles, which are essentially drones that circle their location in pursuit of their targets, upping their advantage against enemy drones that had been, until now, far more advanced, a report by Business Insider revealed.

The dual-mode Iranian-grown 358 UAV, also known as the 358 Saqr, which integrates the capabilities of a kamikaze drone and an anti-aircraft guided missile, is undoubtedly the most ubiquitous, according to the report.

On the 358

The 358 is domestically manufactured in Iran and is characterized by its advanced capabilities that have shifted the tips of the scale in combat. 

Iranian state media revealed that it is a 9-foot cylinder with fins surrounding its body and tail, as well as a 22-pound warhead. It can maneuver the air at an altitude of 28,000 feet but is designed to primarily target low-altitude drones.

James Patton Rogers, the executive director of the Cornell Brooks Tech Policy Institute at Cornell University and author of Precision: A History of American Warfare, told Business Insider that post-launch, the 358 circles in an eight-shaped loop until its optic sensors locate its target.

It can also detonate the warhead once it nears the target utilizing embedded infrared technology. According to reports, the loitering munition keeps flying until it finds a target or runs out of fuel. 

In Yemen, the 358 proved its effectiveness and reliability against Saudi drones and emerged as a threat against American Pentagon aircraft in the region. Hezbollah has also employed the 358 against Israeli drones and exhibited its efficiency, making it the most advanced technology in the Middle East. 

On April 8, Hezbollah succeeded in downing an Israeli Kochav drone, otherwise known as the Elbit-Systems-manufactured Hermes 900 drone, allegedly using a 358 drone, reminding "Israel" that its army drones are not immune. 

🇱🇧🇮🇱 Hezbollah shot down an Israeli Hermes 900 reconnaissance and strike drone worth $25 million.

The Iranian anti-aircraft missile "Rocket 358" has proven itself very well in all theaters of operations where it has already been used - it poses the greatest danger to drones,… pic.twitter.com/lG7u9vWjSo

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) April 7, 2024

Although the missiles are slower than traditional surface-to-air missiles, their systems enable Resistance groups to enhance their capabilities and assert their advantage in battle against what were considered more advanced drones like the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 and low-aviation aircraft.

Ryan Bohl, a senior Middle East and North Africa analyst at the risk intelligence company RANE, reported that the 358 offered "a certain degree of flexibility for Hezbollah, untying their anti-air defense network from being completely anchored on geography by allowing them to loiter in the skies."

Both Bohl and Rogers agreed that the deployment of the 358 would create a new defensive/offensive strategy as previously superior aircraft have been challenged by the Iranian loitering munition. 

Iran's 'Gaza' multirole drone draws global attention in Qatar expo

The Islamic Republic of Iran's defense industry has been marked by the ability to reverse engineer top-of-the-line foreign hardware, weapons, and systems at lower costs due to a flurry of economic and financial factors. This includes the fact that the industry is mainly associated with public institutions and that key components are produced locally.

A report by the Iranian news agency ISNA revealed that Iran possesses nine types of missiles with speeds ranging from 6,125 kilometers per hour to 17,151 kilometers per hour (equivalent to Mach 5-14).

The report emphasized that these ranges are capable of targeting "Israel".

Additionally, the report featured an infographic detailing the following Iranian ballistic missiles: Sejjil, Kheibar, Emad, Shahab-3, Ghadr, Paveh, Fattah-2, Kheibar Shekan, and Haj Qasem.

Moreover, the Iranian homegrown "Gaza" or Shahed-149 multirole drone garnered the attention of both military officials and Western and Israeli media outlets after The Wall Street Journal published a report on the aircraft. 

Shahed-149 was seen in a display at a Qatari arm sales expo earlier in March, standing out from among a flurry of Iranian-produced weapons due to its range and ability to up to 13 missiles per flight. 

The "Gaza" drone, named in homage to the Gaza Strip, has a range of 2,000 km and can carry multiple precision-guided munitions, as well as bombs to be used in offensive or defensive situations. Specifically, its attack capabilities and long range sparked worries among Israeli media outlets, such as The Jerusalem Post and i24 News since the range corresponds to the distance between Iranian territories and major Israeli settlements and cities in occupied Palestine. The "Gaza" drone is, therefore, added to a wide array of weaponry that is capable of striking Israeli positions with impeccable precision, heightening the fears of both officials and settlers. 

Read more: Iran emerged as global leader in drone production: US officials