Iran’s Asymmetric Counterair Campaign: Attacking the U.S. Air Force’s Nests and Eggs

In a hypothetical future conflict, Iran executes an asymmetric counterair campaign against U.S. forces using drones and missiles. The strategy targets critical U.S. airpower enablers, such as refueling tankers, command-and-control aircraft, and radar infrastructure at bases across the Middle East. Iran's goal is not to achieve air superiority but to impose air denial, degrading America's ability to project power and raising the cost of its operations. This approach highlights the growing vulnerability of forward-deployed U.S. assets to long-range precision strikes. The U.S. Air Force must adapt by rethinking its forward operating concepts to withstand sustained attacks in an environment where sanctuaries no longer exist.