Most of the drones Russia is using in its war against Ukraine are made in Iran. Most of the components inside those drones, however, are made in America.
In November, the UK-based group Conflict Armament Research examined several drones downed by the Ukrainian military. They found more than 80% of the drone parts were manufactured by companies based in the U.S.
CNN reported the majority of parts Iran is using to make drones are widely available on the civilian market, making it easy for Iran to side-step sanctions.
The latest data indicates Iran is using parts from more than 70 manufacturers based in 13 different countries or territories to make its drones. One drone shot down in the Black Sea and captured by Ukraine had Japanese batteries, an Austrian engine, and American processors.
President Biden recently formed an expansive task force to find out how U.S. made components are winding up in weapons used by our enemies. The task force includes representatives from the Departments of Defense, State, Justice, Commerce and Treasury.
The White House National Security Council is overseeing the task force as part of what’s being labeled a holistic approach to dealing with Iran. With the war on terror over, the Pentagon is preparing for a potential war with the countries that make up the Big Four: Iran, Russia, China and North Korea.
The U.S. has NATO and Pacific Rim allies to deal with Russia, China, and North Korea. Now, there are plans in the works to create a regional alliance in the Middle East, with Israel as a major partner.
Thanks to the Abraham Accords negotiated under President Trump, relations between Israel and several neighboring Arab countries were normalized. The normalization is paving the way for potential military alliances between Israel and countries like Bahrain.
Israel is a partner worth having in terms of regional alliances. The Israel Defense Force has a vast amount of combat experience, and Israeli defense manufacturers are known for making some of the best weapons in the world.
The Pentagon said in a statement, “The easing of tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbors after the Abraham Accords has provided a strategic opportunity for the United States to align key partners against shared threats in the Middle East.”
