The Capture of Iran's Hark Island: Will This Present a New Challenge for American Military Forces?

Petro Chernyshov, the former president of Kyivstar and the founder of the educational project Kontora Pi, has drawn attention to the situation surrounding Iran's Hark Island, which could soon become the subject of military operations. From a theoretical standpoint, the capture of the island by American forces does not seem like an insurmountable task. However, a more pressing concern is what would happen following such a capture.

About a year and a half ago, Chernyshov raised this issue when it was not at the forefront of Ukrainian media discussions. Hark Island, located in the Persian Gulf, is strategically significant, as approximately 90% of Iran's oil exports pass through its terminal. The island covers an area of just 6 by 4 kilometers, with one-third occupied by an oil port featuring massive storage tanks and infrastructure for oil storage, while another third is dedicated to defensive structures, which, according to Donald Trump and Israel, have already been reduced to ruins.

The island has a nearly flat surface, with a maximum elevation of about 80 meters, making it vulnerable to attacks. In Chernyshov's view, the capture of such an island by American military forces would likely not present serious difficulties. However, the more intriguing question is what would happen after the capture—how would American Marines and paratroopers respond to mass attacks from FPV drones?

Imagine a scenario where FPV drones begin to swarm the island—not dozens, but hundreds, possibly even thousands. In such a situation, American military personnel would find themselves in a challenging position, as it is physically impossible to disperse, and the entire area of the island is perfectly visible and exposed to aerial fire. This raises the question of how American forces would cope with such a threat, especially considering that the widespread use of FPV drones in real combat situations is a new experience for them.

Thomas Friedman, a renowned American journalist, notes that the situation becomes even more complicated if FPV drones are controlled via fiber optics. In this case, suppressing them with electronic warfare (EW) becomes virtually impossible, as there is no radio signal to jam. Furthermore, there are also kamikaze drones that can be launched from submarines or boats, further complicating the situation for American military forces.

The geographical situation also plays a crucial role: the distance from the island to the Iranian mainland is about 30 kilometers, which is an optimal range for using fiber-optic FPV drones. This allows for reliable communication and control over the drones, potentially turning the island into a high-tech shooting range where defending against aerial attacks would be nearly impossible.

Thus, the prospect of the potential consequences of capturing Hark Island raises alarms. Will this be checkmate in modern warfare? This question remains open, but it undoubtedly requires serious analysis and discussion.

This text has been published with the author's permission.

Tags: Hark Island, US War in Iran, Petro Chernyshov, Iran, American Military.