Bangladesh, Aug. 16 -- The recent escalation between Iran and the Gulf states has exposed both the strength and the limitations of the American-led air-defense architecture that has underpinned regional security for decades. As Iranian ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones overwhelmed the skies in unprecedented numbers, Patriot and THAAD systems demonstrated their ability to intercept a large proportion of incoming threats. Yet the sheer volume of interceptors required has revealed an uncomfortable reality: the US security shield remains the regions most capable defensive umbrella, but its capacity is not unlimited.

From late February onward, Iran sustained an intensive campaign involving ballistic missiles and drones against ta...