This particular statement, made by the U.S. pilot to military intelligence officials after his rescue, sparked a major debate in the U.S. intelligence community.
If the pilot's observations of this group of drones moving synchronously in the air like a single body are finally confirmed, it will mean that Iran has achieved a much more advanced military capability in UAV technology than expected.
Sources state that smaller devices such as legs extend beneath the large drone bodies and the entire structure is managed from a single center via a network connection.
Experts emphasize that this technology, called “one-to-many mesh network” in the literature, is available in countries such as Russia and China, but Iran's possession could seriously alter the military balance in the region.
The cause of the fighter jet crash is under investigation
The official investigation into the cause of the crash of the F-15 fighter jet in question is still ongoing. However, initial evaluations indicate that this coordinated drone formation may have played a role in shooting down the American aircraft.
This incident was recorded as the first US fighter jet downing in Iranian airspace during the current conflict.
The weapons systems officer on the plane was also rescued a day after the incident by hiding in the mountainous terrain; However, it is not yet clear whether he also saw the same cluster of drones.
The credibility of the statement is questioned
Despite the strategic importance of the observations, some US intelligence officials are cautious about the pilot's claims. It is stated that the pilot, shaken by the severity of the accident, survived another aircraft shot down by friendly fire in the area where he had previously worked.
This situation raised the question of whether what was told during the intelligence interrogation was the first attempt at advanced military technology or an illusion experienced in the desert.
Defense experts point out that protecting against UAV swarms with such advanced coordination capabilities and explosive ammunition will incur extremely high costs for military budgets in the future.
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