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

In a hypothetical 2026 conflict, Iran executes an asymmetric counterair campaign against U.S. forces in the Middle East. Using drones and missiles, Iran targets critical American airpower enablers such as refueling tankers, radar systems, and airborne command centers like the E-3 Sentry. This strategy aims to achieve air denial by degrading U.S. operational capacity rather than seeking traditional air superiority. The United States is considered unprepared for this type of sustained attack on its forward bases and must adapt its strategy to counter the proliferation of long-range precision strikes.