US attempts to shoot down Iranian drones with laser-guided bombs after missile shortage (X @AirPowerNEW1)
In an episode blending tactical improvisation and cinematic references, pilots from the United States Air Force (USAF) revealed that they attempted to shoot down Iranian kamikaze drones using laser-guided precision bombs.
This desperate measure was taken during Iran’s massive attack on Israel in April 2024, when the F-15E Strike Eagle fighters ran out of conventional air-to-air missiles in the intense combat. The description of the moment of impact, compared to a “Star Wars” scene – with the drone emerging unscathed from a massive explosion cloud – illustrates the experimental nature and difficulties of the maneuver.
The decision stemmed from prior discussions on what to do in a missile shortage scenario. Leaders of the 494th Fighter Squadron, such as Colonel Timothy Causey and Major Benjamin Coffey, had already debated alternative tactics, including using the internal cannon and even JDAM bombs adapted for moving targets (LJDAM). Despite a historical precedent of success during the Gulf War, the three attempts made that night failed, with Colonel Causey’s bomb coming the closest to the target.
Given the risk that a bomb could miss its target and cause civilian casualties or collateral damage with strategic implications, the practice was quickly discontinued. However, officials acknowledge that the tactic could be reconsidered in the future against massive drone attacks, where no alternatives are available.
The experience highlighted the urgency of finding low-cost solutions for asymmetric aerial threats, driving the accelerated integration of laser-guided rockets as a more viable and safer option than expensive air-to-air missiles.
Source: The War Zone | Photo: X @AirPowerNEW1 | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
An F-35C aircraft performs the first ever dual, external release of a GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition Jan. 30, 2024. Two weapons were employed against a remote controlled High-Speed Moving Target. The bombs were guided to the target via the onboard EOTS. pic.twitter.com/Pd7hLzTAlr
— AirPower 2.0 (MIL_STD) (@AirPowerNEW1) January 31, 2025
