The New York Times reported that Iran’s use of low-cost drones has placed the United States and its allies under economic and defensive pressure by depleting their stockpiles of expensive interceptor missiles. The newspaper wrote on Wednesday, March 4, citing experts, that shooting down each Iranian drone is significantly more costly than launching it. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) stated that the United States has purchased interceptor missiles in limited quantities in recent years, and even with new contracts, production capacity may take years to meet the requirements of a potential active war. Experts compared the current situation with the air defense crisis in Ukraine, warning that without urgent measures, the ability of Washington and its allies to protect the region could be seriously weakened.
