There is an ongoing debate about the future of warfare, with two main camps offering distinct visions.

For nearly two years, many experts and commentators have pointed to the rapid advancement of drones and traditional artillery as the decisive forces shaping the battlefield.

In contrast, the short but intense Iran Israel war in June 2025 renewed faith in the power and necessity of stealth warplanes.

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These perspectives highlight the excitement and uncertainty of modern military technology, yet both tend to overlook a crucial constant: the enduring power and versatility of the cruise missile.

Looking back to February 2022, during the early stages of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the world watched as a mix of artillery, heavy infantry weapons, and anti-tank systems like Javelin missiles played a decisive role in halting the initial Russian advance.

Russian miscalculations also contributed, but as the war dragged on and high tech weaponry became scarce, Ukrainian innovators stepped in.

Drawing on hobbyist drone technology—an idea originally pushed forward by ISIS in the 2010s—they developed weaponized drones that proved deadly and effective.

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By 2025, drones had become an everyday feature of both land and naval operations in the Ukraine conflict. They inflicted the majority of casualties and were even used in daring strikes deep into Russia, targeting strategic bombers.

Drones, it seemed, were the new face of warfare, with traditional systems appearing increasingly outdated.

However, Israel’s response in its conflict with Iran in 2025 offered a counterpoint to the drone-centric view.

Israel’s early and precise strikes, coupled with the use of advanced stealth aircraft like the F-35, allowed them to achieve air superiority and target Iran’s military infrastructure with little interference.

Special operations forces operated effectively behind enemy lines, and a blend of missile defenses and airstrikes diminished the threat posed by Iran’s own ballistic missiles.

The campaign reached its conclusion after American B-2 bombers hit key Iranian nuclear sites, demonstrating the continued value of airpower and strategic bombing.

Neither the rise of drones nor the resurgence of stealth aircraft fully encapsulates the direction modern warfare is taking. One weapon has consistently proven its worth in nearly every conflict since the early 1990s: the low-altitude cruise missile, and by extension, the low-flying strike drone.

For the United States, cruise missiles have long marked the beginning of military campaigns, with the Tomahawk missile serving as a symbol of American military reach. While cruise missiles are certainly costly, their impact is undeniable.

They strike at enemy air defenses, communications, and other key nodes, clearing the way for subsequent operations.

Their impressive success rate justifies the investment, as they allow other military assets to operate with a much higher degree of safety and effectiveness.

The advantages of cruise missiles are not limited to their precision or destructive power. By flying at low altitudes, these missiles evade enemy radar and anti-aircraft systems, which typically require a direct line of sight.

Defending against such threats is a monumental challenge, especially for larger nations.

The vastness of most countries limits any cost effective air defenses as tens of thousands of air defense systems would be required to protect even modest sized countries.

Therefore, geography and physics give cruise missiles an edge that is difficult, if not impossible, to counter.

Other countries have recognized the value of this weapon system as well. The United Kingdom, France, and Russia have all relied on cruise missiles to set the stage for later operations in various conflicts.

In response to the high cost of cruise missiles, some nations have fielded less expensive, propeller-driven alternatives such as the Israeli Harpy, Iranian Shahed, and Ukrainian FP-1. While often referred to as “one way attack” or “strike drones,”

they fulfill essentially the same purpose as faster cruise missiles, making them an important part of modern arsenals.

Recent conflicts, including those between Iran and Israel, Russia and Ukraine, and Azerbaijan and Armenia, have highlighted just how devastating low-altitude cruise missiles and drones can be.

These weapons have destroyed air defenses, command centers, ammunition depots, and vital infrastructure like power plants and oil refineries. “Even the best defenses have been incapable of stopping this threat,” the article observes.

“The larger the country, the less defensible. Geography and physics are on the side of these weapons.”

It is no surprise that the United States, Russia, and China have all invested heavily in submarine-launched cruise missiles.

The added element of surprise that submarines provide makes cruise missiles a potent deterrent and a first strike option in any future conflict.

As manufacturing and deployment costs continue to fall, these weapons will only become more widely available, increasing their significance.

In summary, no matter how warfare evolves, cruise missiles and their low-flying drone counterparts will remain at the forefront of military strategy.

The ability to open a conflict with a precise, survivable, and cost effective strike gives nations a decisive advantage. As recent history demonstrates, these weapons are not just the present, but also the future of warfare.

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