• By Vaidika Thapa
  • Mon, 02 Mar 2026 07:16 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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The latest military escalation between the United States, Israel and Iran is closely watched. The tensions which escalated on Saturday, February 28, has raised serious questions about the nature of modern warfare. As strikes and counter-strikes continue, it has become clear that war today are not fought only with tanks and jets. The plan today comprises of cyber tools, cheap drones, precision missiles and coordinated regional strategies. This mix of elements suggests that the backbone of war is evolving in modern world.

It was reported that that the US used Anthropic’s Claude AI tool during the strikes on Iran. According to The Wall Street Journal report, the US military used Anthropic's tools for intelligence assessments, target identification, and examining battle scenarios. This bring us to a point that cyber warfare is now a silent but powerful weapon. Under this, countries can target communication systems, power grids, banking networks and military command systems through hacking.

Cyberattacks

This becomes significant as modern fighter jets, particularly the fifth-generation stealth fighter and missile launch systems predominantly rely on computers for avionics and targeting. These all can be hacked. Cyber warfare may not create explosions, but they can surely delay a country’s response, leading to losses. While no official records mention use of cyber warfare tactics, the targeting of only military installations suggest something else.

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Cheaper Drones

Another major shift to be considered in recent escalation is the use of much cheaper drones by the US. The Low-Cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS ) drone by Arizona-based Spektreworks was used by the US to attack Iran. The US Central Command in a post on X, noted, "CENTCOM's Task Force Scorpion Strike - for the first time in history - is using one-way attack drones in combat during Operation Epic Fury."

"These low-cost drones, modeled after Iran's Shahed drones, are now delivering American-made retribution," the statement added. This signals a major change as unlike expensive fighter jets, small unmanned drones are affordable and can be produced in large numbers. Moreover, if launched in swarms, they can cause significant damage to advanced air defence systems. This way it changes the economics of war by cutting down costs.

Use Of AI

Another aspect of the modern warfare is technology-driven, which concentrates on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Military reliance on AI is increasing for target identification, intelligence assessments, image analysis, battlefield simulations and surveillance. These features give an edge along with traditional military force, as they make modern wars faster and less predictable.

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