The first clear signal that this war is doubling as a testing ground for next-generation weapons came from a missile strike. When the US used the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) in the opening phase of the conflict, it was the combat debut of a system that had only just completed prototype testing, and whose performance is now being scrutinised in real time by military planners and analysts alike.
The PrSM: A new missile under real-world scrutiny
According to a recent report in The New York Times, the PrSM completed prototype testing only in 2025, making its rapid transition to battlefield use unusually swift. By March 1, US Central Command had already released footage showing the missile being launched in the first 24 hours of the war. Days later, Admiral Brad Cooper confirmed that it had been used in combat for the first time, underscoring how quickly the system had moved from testing to operational deployment.
The PrSM is designed to replace the older ATACMS missile, with a focus on longer range, greater accuracy and the ability to operate in highly contested environments. It is fired from existing HIMARS and MLRS launchers, which allows it to be integrated into current US artillery systems without requiring entirely new infrastructure. This compatibility is a key part of its design philosophy — a next-generation missile that fits into an already networked battlefield.
Cost and scale are also part of the story. While exact per-unit figures are not always disclosed, US defense planning documents have consistently framed the PrSM as a high-value precision weapon, intended for critical targets rather than mass use. Its role is to strike command centers, missile sites and hardened infrastructure deep inside enemy territory.
What makes its debut in this war particularly significant is not just its capabilities but the uncertainty surrounding its performance. As NYT reported, a PrSM strikes in Lamerd in Iran hit locations such as a school and a sports hall near an Iranian military compound. Analysts and officials have not reached a clear conclusion about why. The report notes that “since the weapon is so new, it’s more difficult to assess whether the PrSM strikes… were intentional, stemmed from a design flaw or manufacturing defect, or were the result of improper target selection.” It also highlights that the civilian structures had been physically separated from the nearby Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps facility for at least 15 years.This ambiguity is central to the idea of battle-testing. A weapon can perform well in controlled trials yet reveal unforeseen issues when exposed to the complexity of real combat. The PrSM is now undergoing that process in full public view.
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AI warfare: The acceleration of the kill chain
If the PrSM represents a new generation of hardware, the most consequential shift in this war may lie in software. The US has deployed AI-assisted targeting systems at a scale not previously seen in an interstate conflict, fundamentally changing how targets are identified and struck.
Reports by Bloomberg and The Times describe what military officials call a new “kill chain,” in which artificial intelligence processes vast streams of data from satellites, drones and electronic surveillance to generate targets in near real time. Instead of analysts spending hours or days validating intelligence, AI systems can compress that timeline dramatically, allowing strikes to occur within minutes of detection.
This is not the first time AI has been used in warfare, but it is the first time it has been integrated so deeply into operational decision-making during a high-intensity conflict between state actors. The distinction is important. Earlier uses of AI were often limited to intelligence support or counterterrorism operations. Here, it is shaping the tempo of war itself. According to a report in The Times, the system enables what officials describe as a “continuous targeting loop,” where data collection, analysis and strike execution are tightly linked. This approach allows the US military to hit a far larger number of targets than would be possible with traditional methods.
At the same time, this raises new questions about reliability and control. When targeting decisions are accelerated by machines, distinguishing between a system error and a human judgment mistake becomes more difficult. In that sense, the AI systems are being tested not just for effectiveness but for trustworthiness under combat conditions.
The LUCAS drone: Learning from the adversary
While less prominent than the PrSM or AI systems, the introduction of the LUCAS drone reflects another important dynamic: rapid adaptation. Used operationally for the first time in this war, the drone is widely understood to be inspired by the kind of low-cost, loitering munitions that Iran has deployed in other conflicts. Its significance lies in how quickly such systems can be developed and fielded. Modern warfare increasingly rewards the ability to replicate and adapt enemy technologies. The LUCAS drone represents a case where the US has effectively internalised lessons from previous conflicts and turned them into its own operational tool.
Unlike high-end missiles, drones like LUCAS are designed for flexibility and scale. They can be used for surveillance, target acquisition or direct attack, often at a lower cost than traditional precision weapons. Their first use in this war is less about technological novelty and more about demonstrating how quickly military innovation cycles have shortened.
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Iran’s long-range strike: A new threshold crossed
On the Iranian side, the most consequential development is not tied to a named missile but to a demonstrated capability. Iran fired ballistic missiles toward Diego Garcia, marking the first time it has attempted a strike at such a long distance, roughly 4,000 kilometers.
This is widely described as a first-ever operational demonstration of Iran’s extended-range strike capability. Crucially, no major Western outlet has confirmed which missile was used, and it was reported that the missile failed to hit the target. That uncertainty has shifted the analytical focus away from specific systems like Khorramshahr and their accuracy toward the broader implication that Iran has shown it can attempt to reach targets far beyond its previously demonstrated combat range.
In modern military terms, this is a significant escalation. Range determines not just what can be hit, but how adversaries must plan their defenses. By crossing this threshold, Iran has effectively expanded the geographic scope of the conflict, at least in terms of potential reach.
War as a laboratory
Across these developments runs a common thread. Just as major previous wars, the ongoing Iran war is functioning as a laboratory where emerging technologies are being tested under real conditions. The PrSM is revealing how a new missile performs outside controlled trials. AI systems are redefining how quickly wars can be fought. Drones like LUCAS are showing how adaptation can keep pace with innovation. Iran’s long-range strike is demonstrating capabilities that had previously been theoretical. Modern militaries do not often get the chance to test new systems in high-intensity combat against capable adversaries. When such conflicts occur, they become moments of accelerated learning.
The result is a war that is shaping the future wars even as it unfolds. The weapons being used are not entirely new, but their performance in this conflict will determine how they are developed and used in the years ahead.
