Pentagon Strategies Pivot to Mobile Launcher Interception as Defense Experts Warn of Potential "Scud Hunt" Failures in Iran

U.S. experts propose using F-16s to destroy mobile Shahed launchers in Iran, though analysts warn of the dangers of an exhausting hunt for mobile platforms.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 16, 2026, 6:01 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Defense Express

The Economic Realities of Modern Anti-Drone Warfare

The United States and its allies are currently navigating an unprecedented scale of aerial engagement as they work to repel massive Iranian Shahed drone attacks. While high-end platforms like the F-35 have been utilized, military experts have likened using fifth-generation fighters for drone interception to "cracking nuts with a sledgehammer." To address the cost-imbalance of using million-dollar missiles against cheap unmanned systems, CENTCOM is aggressively shifting toward more sustainable assets. Admiral Brad Cooper, chief of U.S. Central Command, noted that the military is moving toward the "other side of the cost curve," prioritizing ten-thousand-dollar interceptors to neutralize hundred-thousand-dollar threats.

Shifting the Focus to Launch Site Interdiction

As the conflict progresses, strategic focus is shifting from reactive interception to proactive destruction of the source. Dave Deptula, dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and a former fighter pilot, has emphasized that the most effective defense is a direct attack on the drone launchers themselves. Deptula suggests that the multirole F-16 fighter is well-suited for this mission, allowing the U.S. to eliminate the threat before the drones are even airborne. This "attack-to-defend" philosophy aims to reduce the burden on air defense networks by neutralizing the enemy's capacity to flood the skies with cheap, long-range strike munitions.

The Perils of Hunting Mobile Iranian Platforms

While the strategy of targeting launchers is sound in principle, Defense Express notes significant operational hurdles due to the nature of Iranian hardware. Shahed launchers are highly mobile and designed for rapid deployment from virtually any location across Iran’s vast territory. This mobility recalls the difficulties the U.S. faced during previous "Scud hunts," where searching for the final remaining mobile missile launchers became exponentially more dangerous and less effective. There is a concern that Iran could adapt to such a campaign by further decentralizing its launch assets, forcing U.S. pilots into a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek.