Israel Iran War · 18 March 2026
How Iran's Cheap Drones Create an Expensive Problem
Iran uses inexpensive drones, costing around $50,000 each, for attacks. To counter these, allies deploy advanced air defense systems. While effective at intercepting most threats, the missiles fired by these systems can cost millions of dollars apiece. This creates a huge financial imbalance: a cheap drone forces an incredibly expensive response. The strategy aims to make defending against these drones financially unsustainable for adversaries over time.
Reported by Content Lab · How we write briefs