One of the events that has caused concern and concern in the international community is the tense relations between the US and Iran, which escalated further after the US execution of Iranian leader Qassem Soleimani and the subsequent missile attacks launched by the Iranians against US bases (Ain al-Asad and Irbil) in Iraq. However, there is now talk of a calmer tomorrow in relations between the two countries, as both seem to have achieved their goal, with Iran stating that it does not seek a re-escalation of relations with the US. On the other hand, US President Donald Trump has said he will impose sanctions on Tehran, which he could do by a variety of means: submarine- or ship-launched Tomahawk missiles that could hit enemy targets from miles away, B-2 stealth bombers to destroy enemy air attacks from high altitudes, stealthy F22s and F35s to attack enemy warplanes, with long-range sensors as well as aircraft . Warships would launch F35Bs , aircraft carriers would launch F-15s , and the Pentagon could even launch tested medium - range missiles. Iran, for its part, is known to possess a number of specific air defense weapons, the most dangerous of which is the Russian S-300 , the most modern variant of which is the S-300PMU2 . This weapon, while by no means superior to the American B-2, F-22s or F-35s, is significant in that it can reach a range of 124 miles and travel at an altitude of 27 kilometers. The exact state of modernization of these weapons is not known, however. The more advanced Russian air defenses, while often undermined by Russia itself in state media, are increasingly capable of detecting even some stealth aircraft using a wider range of detection frequencies, faster processing power and increased digital networking capable of sharing target data across multiple nodes. However, it is far from clear that these advanced air defenses can actually threaten the most sophisticated military equipment of the US forces.
What changes in attacks using AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology on fighter jets and bombers?
The beginning of a massive attack could be made with tanks, infantry vehicles, and even scattered units ready to attack urban areas. This would require close air support with drones , Apache attack helicopters , and low-flying aircraft ( A-10 and high-speed F-35 ground attack aircraft). Air superiority would also “pave” the way for helicopters , C-130 transport aircraft , and drones .
Iran may present some aerial threats, including some of its own aircraft. For example, Globalfirepower.com estimates that Iran has over 140 fighters in a total of about 500 air assets. In addition, the National Interest reports that Iran has six F-14 Tomcat fighter jets that have been acquired over the years. Carrier-launched or other attack aircraft, such as Ospreys or F-35Bs, would likely operate from the Persian Gulf. Iran regularly uses small craft for attacks in the narrow and extremely dangerous Strait of Hormuz, an area bordering Iran’s coastline that serves as a key passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Possession of weapons such as Tomahawk missiles (which can travel up to 900 miles) would allow the US to plan an attack with less risk of Iranian retaliation. As of 2019, Iran has about 90 small patrol boats, according to Globalfirepower.com. In conclusion, the Iranian military presents very serious air, land and sea threats.
In summary, the possibility of a war between the US and Iraq now seems plausible due to the assassination of Soleimani, with the Pentagon stating that the US is prepared for any potential involvement in relation to Iran and that it is in Iran's "hand" to choose between de-escalation of relations between them or military conflict. At the same time, it underlines that the American side is willing to hold talks with Iran and restore their relations. On the other hand, Iran's ambassador to the UN rejected the US proposal for cooperation, given that Trump announced the imposition of new sanctions against Tehran.
The death of Qassem Soleimani has sparked a variety of reactions, including a surge in security incidents. Hackers tried to compromise U.S. computer networks. Their illegal activity has increased sharply since the assassination of the Iranian leader, but with limited success. More specifically, their efforts to take down federal, state and local government websites have increased by 50% and then accelerated, Cloudflare wrote. In the space of 48 hours, the attacks have nearly tripled. CloudflareMatthew Prince called the increase “statistically significant” in an interview with CNN. He added that the actual number of attempts was likely higher, given that the company has a limited view of the broader Internet.
So, US officials have advised businesses to be vigilant as tensions with Iran continue to escalate, either directly or indirectly. The Department of Homeland Security issued warnings and a terrorism advisory regarding the risk of Iranian cyberattacks. Agency officials briefed members of Congress on Iran’s cyber and potential vulnerabilities to US targets.
Experts believe that Iran has steadily improved its cyber capabilities. This has led to the country being considered a secondary digital threat after more powerful countries - such as Russia and China- and dangerous enough to cause significant local damage. A typical example is the fact that Iran has in the past been accused of shutting down banking websites and deleting data on computers belonging to oil giant Saudi Aramco.
