The latest data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimates the range of the Shahed-131/136 series drones to be approximately 1,000-2,500 kilometers. This means that from Iranian airspace, numerous US military facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Iraq, and Jordan are theoretically within range of a strike.
More importantly, this is no longer a paper threat. During the 2026 war, Iranian drones and missiles attacked US military facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan. The Washington Post, based on satellite imagery, reported that at least 15 US bases or facilities suffered damage to 228 buildings, equipment, or nodes.
The US subsequently increased asset dispersion and deployed more aerial refueling tankers to Israel, some of which were transferred to military airfields.
CSIS points out that the Shahed-136 suicide drone has a speed of approximately 120 miles per hour, and its value lies precisely in its quantity rather than the performance of a single aircraft.
This is also the core contradiction currently facing the US military's Middle East deployment: the US still maintains air superiority, but fixed bases are becoming increasingly difficult to defend at low cost.
