[News in War History] Missile and Drone Variants, Iran's '358'... Why Israel Fears It

Israel Defense: "Will Respond Equally If Iran Attacks"
Iran's '358' Air Defense Network Spreading to Middle Eastern Countries
Iran Drones Advancing Through Technology Exchange with North Korea

In September last year, Sergey Shoigu, the Russian Minister of Defense, visited Iran and received a briefing on the 358 missiles.
[Image source=Russian Ministry of Defense]

As warnings emerge from the United States and Western intelligence agencies that Iran's airstrike on Israel is imminent, attention is focused on the possibility that the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has lasted over six months, could escalate into a broader Middle East war. In particular, concerns are rising that Iran, which dominates the drone market across the Middle East region, could deploy thousands of drones simultaneously over major Israeli cities, causing significant damage.

In this context, a unique weapon developed in Iran, known as the '358,' which combines drones and missiles, is spreading throughout the Middle East, changing the nature of warfare in the region. The 358, often called the 'drone-catching drone,' is recognized as a new weapon highly valued by Middle Eastern militias. In this segment, we will explore Iran's drone technology that is reshaping global warfare, as well as the history of technological cooperation between Iran and North Korea behind it.

Israeli Defense Minister: "We Will Respond Accordingly If Iran Attacks"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

First, let's look at the news. According to CNN on the 11th (local time), Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said in a phone call with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, "We will not tolerate Iran's attacks on Israeli territory," adding, "If Iran directly attacks us, we will respond accordingly."

U.S. and Western intelligence agencies assess that Iran is highly likely to launch airstrikes on the Israeli mainland using ballistic missiles or drones. The day before, Bloomberg News cited a U.S. intelligence official saying, "The U.S. and Western allies believe Iran will soon carry out large-scale missile or unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) attacks on Israeli military or government facilities," and "some believe this could happen within the next few days."

This follows the destruction of the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, by an Israeli airstrike on the 1st, which killed Iranian officers and led Iran to hint at retaliatory attacks. After at least seven Iranian officers, including IRGC commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi, were killed in the attack, the Iranian government vowed to retaliate against Israel.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also warned on the 10th after Eid al-Fitr prayers, stating, "The Zionist regime (Israel) made the mistake of attacking Iran's diplomatic mission in Syria," and "The evil regime must be punished, and it will be."

Iran Dominates Middle East Drone Market... The Essential 358 Air Defense System

The 358 missile appeared at the September 2022 parade of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). [Image source=Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)]

Amid growing concerns over Iranian airstrikes, the weapon attracting attention is Iran's proud '358 missile,' known as the 'drone-catching drone.' It is reportedly used and possessed by most major military groups in the Middle East, including Syria, Iraq, Yemen's Houthi rebels, and Hezbollah.

This weapon has a very distinctive appearance. Its overall shape resembles a long cylindrical missile but is equipped with multiple wings. It looks like a combination of a drone and a missile, and while it is technically a missile, it is also known to fly for extended periods like a drone.

According to Business Insider, the operational method of the 358 missile is completely different from that of conventional missiles. While typical missiles fly directly toward a preset target to strike, the 358 missile circles around the launch area in a figure-eight pattern. When it detects a small drone or missile passing nearby, it autonomously aims and intercepts it.

If there is no target, it continues to patrol the area until its fuel runs out, searching for drones to intercept. Therefore, although it is much slower than typical ballistic missiles, it can effectively intercept kamikaze drones that are difficult to detect by radar. This operational method is why it is called the 'drone-catching drone.'

Mutual Technology Exchange with North Korea Since the Cold War... Advancing Drone Airstrike Technology

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The background enabling Iran to develop such a unique weapon system is believed to be its technological connection with North Korea. Since the 1980s, Iran and North Korea have established cooperative relations in missile technology and have exchanged technology and weapons for over 40 years.

A 2019 report by the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) included information linking Iran's ballistic missile and other weapon systems with North Korean technology. According to the report, Iran funded North Korea in the 1980s to develop indigenous Scud missiles, and subsequently, North Korea began selling Scud missiles to Iran.

U.S. authorities believe that Iran's main medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), the liquid-fueled 'Shahab-3,' is an upgraded version of North Korea's Nodong missile. Another MRBM produced in Iran since 2017, the 'Khoramshahr,' is also analyzed to incorporate North Korea's Musudan missile production technology.

Recently, there have been speculations that Iran's drone technology has been applied to North Korean drones. In December 2022, five North Korean drones that intruded into Seoul, Gimpo, Paju, and Incheon Ganghwa areas were suspected by the U.S. to have incorporated Iranian drone technology. At that time, Ken Gause, senior director at the U.S. Naval Analysis Center, stated, "North Korea has been researching unmanned aerial vehicle technology since the 1990s but has not demonstrated the flight time and evasion capabilities we have recently observed," adding, "It is highly likely that North Korea utilized unmanned aerial vehicles or UAV technology received from Iran, a long-standing defense technology partner."

Ultimately, the issue of Iranian drones threatening Israel is not a problem confined to the distant Middle East region. We must not let our guard down against the threats posed by Iran's drones and North Korea's ballistic missile technology, which are significantly changing the nature of warfare worldwide.