Israeli drones on the prowl: IAF aircraft continuously hunt missile launchers & military leaders in Iran’s skies

Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighter jets – the American-made F-15, F-16, and F-35s – have drawn most of the attention for their role in establishing air superiority in Iran’s skies and destroying hundreds of targets over the past five days.

However, Israel’s locally-produced drone fleet has played a central role in the operation, as they have been prowling the Iranian skies almost non-stop for the last five days, stalking and eliminating their targets from above.

“Dozens of Israeli Air Force aircraft are flying continuously over Tehran, identifying military operatives and launchers in real time and striking them. There are no safe cities in the Middle East anymore,” IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin said on Tuesday.

⭕️ The IDF struck a centrifuge production site and multiple weapon manufacturing facilities in the Tehran area, key elements of Iran’s nuclear weapons and missile programs.

Over 50 IAF fighter jets targeted:

- A facility for producing centrifuges used to enrich uranium beyond… pic.twitter.com/YXMiKAJWVz

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 18, 2025

Air Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Tomer Bar confirmed that “remotely piloted aircraft are identifying and neutralizing launchers and radars on the ground. So far, the IAF has struck over 70 Iranian air defense missile batteries.”

According to Ynet News, armed drones like the Hermes 450 (“zik”), its larger cousin Hermes 900 (“kokhav”), and other models of Elbit System's locally produced Hermes family have participated in these “hunts.”

Unlike fighter jets crewed by Israeli Air Force (IAF) pilots, drones are not constrained by human limitations and can loiter over a town or region for hours, waiting for the right moment to strike, whether it's a military commander or a mobile missile launcher emerging from cover.

An Israeli “Hermes 900” Long-Endurance Tactical Drone flies freely in the sky over Kermanshah in Western Iran, reportedly carrying out strikes against the Imam Hassan Military Base. pic.twitter.com/8EZLlENufE

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 18, 2025

The importance of this development for Israel’s military operation cannot be overstated.

The entry of drones into the arena had first to be ensured by establishing air superiority, since the past years of war showed that Israel’s drones had significant difficulty operating in contested theaters.

Hezbollah managed to down several Hermes 450 and 900-type drones since the start of the war, partially using Iranian equipment.

🔴RAW FOOTAGE: The IAF struck 12 missile launch sites and storage facilities in Iran aimed at Israeli civilians.

We will continue to operate to defend our civilians. pic.twitter.com/hPFtBw4JqA

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 17, 2025

The use of drones in the nearby Lebanese airspace was restricted until the IDF escalated its operations there, hunting and destroying the terror group’s air defense batteries – using the same methods it has in Iran.

Now, Israel apparently operates these costly but highly effective drones in the airspace of a country that is thousands of kilometers away.

In addition to striking targets, the constant presence of reconnaissance drones also allows Israeli intelligence to update and create its target bank, large potions of which are already depleted after the intense operations of the past days.

What initially enabled Israel to establish air superiority over Iran was the first phase of the Oct. 7 war, particularly the campaign on its northern front.

To reach Iran, Israeli jets must fly close to Lebanon before crossing Syria, passing Turkey, and crossing Iraq, exposing the aircraft to air defense systems of four countries.  

Elbit Systems’ Hermes 900 #drone Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) recently successfully completed a series of flight demonstrations for the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Took place off the West Coast of Wales over the first two weeks of September. (Photo: Elbit) pic.twitter.com/IX8JMSBlWL

— Seth Frantzman (@sfrantzman) September 11, 2020

Hezbollah’s air defenses in Lebanon were systematically dismantled over 10 months of Israeli military operations there.

Syrian air defenses were almost completely obliterated once the Assad regime fell, as Israel embarked on a near week-long mission to destroy every piece of military equipment that could endanger the country or its military.

Meanwhile, Russia withdrew its advanced air defense systems from Syria.

Turkey, the new Syrian government’s main backer, quickly tried to establish a military presence in the country, which could have endangered Israeli planes. However, with Washington's mediation, Israel and Turkey established a deconfliction mechanism.

Finally, Iraqi air defenses are not likely to pose a serious threat to Israel’s Air Force, especially given the U.S. military presence in the country.

In doing so, Israel established a corridor spanning the 2,000 kilometers (about 1,250 miles) between its territory and Iran, clearing the path for the dismantling of the regime’s air defense systems.

However, despite destroying large portions of Iran’s defenses, the IDF acknowledged that a Hermes 900 was shot down on Wednesday, proving that a certain risk continues to exist.

“There are prices to be paid when you act offensively, proactively, strive for contact to achieve superiority and destroy every launcher,” a security source told Israel Hayom.

“The incident will be investigated like other incidents and the lessons learned will be immediately implemented in upcoming operations,” the IDF stated.