Threat Status Drone fever: Is the U.S. forgetting what really wins wars?
Mar 6, 2026
Dr. Amos Fox, retired Army lieutenant colonel and military tech scholar. Vaughn Cockayne, Washington Times foreign affairs reporter. They tackle U.S.-Iran fighting, messy evacuations, and munitions shortages. Then a deep look at drone fever: how enthusiasm for uncrewed systems shapes doctrine, risks hollowing ground forces, and sparks ideas like 3D-printed drones and a possible drone corps.
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Iran Leadership Vacuum After Khamenei Strike
- Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei was reported killed in initial U.S. and Israeli strikes, creating a leadership vacuum.
- Vaughn Cockayne describes a three-person interim council and an 88-member assembly legally required to pick a successor.
Cheap Enemy Drones Create Costly Defense Burden
- Current air defenses often cost more to intercept drones than the drones cost to produce.
- Ben Wolfgang notes Shahed drones can be as cheap as $20,000 while missiles and systems used to shoot them down are far costlier.
Pressure Industry To Rebuild Munitions Stocks
- Press defense firms to speed munitions production to avoid depleting stockpiles in prolonged conflicts.
- Ben highlights White House talks with RTX, Lockheed Martin and L3 Harris to ramp Tomahawk, Patriot and rocket production.