04.03.2026 20:01
As part of the conflicts in the Middle East, Iran showcased its extensive facility, named 'Missile City', filled with suicide drones and rockets to the public. The low-cost and rapidly produced Shahed drones are frequently used by Iran. These drones are also preferred in Russia's operations in Ukraine.
Iran showcased "Missile City," a vast facility filled with suicide drones and rockets used in ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
The released images show rockets and Shahed drones lined up in a massive area woven with tunnels. Inside the facility, there is a portrait of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who lost his life in a US-Israel joint operation last Saturday. As Iranian flags hang from the ceilings, vehicles carrying drone launchers are also reflected in the footage.
Shahed drones are frequently preferred by Iran due to their low production cost and the ability to be produced quickly. The drones are also used in Russia's operations in Ukraine.
Analysts note that the defense stocks of Gulf countries in the Middle East are rapidly depleting in the face of Iran's consecutive missile and drone attacks. US-backed countries have spent billions of dollars to respond to the attacks. The United Arab Emirates neutralized 92% of the 541 launches directed at it; the cost of this was recorded to be approximately £567 million.
Defense experts indicate that the cost of anti-drone technologies is high, making long-term operations challenging. For example, the production cost of US-made Patriot missiles can reach up to £3.75 million, while a Shahed drone costs £16,000. This situation makes Iran's attack capacity sustainable. The cost of THAAD missile batteries is said to be as high as £10 million.
According to Iran's statement, the country does not plan to use all its advanced weapons in the early days. Defense Ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik stated, "We have the capacity to endure, and we can defend and attack for longer than the enemy has planned."
The images show that tensions in the Middle East continue and that Iran is still expanding its military capacity in the region.