Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are looking at a much cheaper solution to counter Iran's drone attacks: Ukrainian-designed interceptors that cost about $2,500 apiece. The interest comes against the background of the exhaustion of stocks of extremely expensive American defensive missiles, informs Reuters. Since the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran broke out, Tehran has launched waves of cheap, mass-produced drones similar to those used by Russia in Ukraine. To bring them down, forces in the region have relied mainly on expensive interceptor missiles, such as the Patriot, which can cost around $4 million each. This huge cost difference highlights a major shift in air warfare: cheap systems deployed in large numbers can quickly consume an adversary's defensive resources. Iran would have launched more than 1,000 drones in the first week of the conflict alone and would have the capacity to produce up to 10,000 per month. The new technology is developed by a Japanese company, in partnership with a Ukrainian startup, and is to be promoted on international markets. The Terra A1 interceptor is specially designed to counter the Shahed drones, which have become a symbol of modern warfare. The increased interest in the Middle East suggests a rapid reconfiguration of military strategies, in which economic efficiency becomes as important as technological superiority.
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