On April 11, Iranian forces announced the recovery of the AN/AAQ-24 LAIRCM system, a Northrop Grumman laser turret designed to protect US aircraft from infrared missiles. It is the first time this technological jewel has fallen into Iranian hands.

The blow is significant. The United States has lost 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones since the war against Iran began on February 28. Losses exceed 720 million dollars, and the wreckage of several aircraft lies on Iranian territory within reach of foreign analysis.

Defense analysts are blunt: with access to the internal architecture of the LAIRCM turret, Chinese and Russian engineers will develop missiles specifically designed to bypass Western infrared countermeasures. The survivability of US transport, tanker, and rescue aircraft would be compromised in Taiwan, the South China Sea, or Eastern Europe.

History confirms it. In 2011, Iran captured the stealth RQ-170 Sentinel drone and allowed Chinese technical delegations to examine it. Beijing reportedly used that data to accelerate its own unmanned aircraft program, including the J-20 stealth fighter.