Million-Dollar Missiles vs. $20K Drones: The Economic War Gulf States Are Losing

• Gulf states are spending over $1 million per missile to shoot down $20,000 Iranian drones, creating an unsustainable economic imbalance.
• The UAE has destroyed over 1,600 drones since February 28, primarily using expensive fighter jets and munitions designed for other aircraft.
• Traditional military systems are ill-equipped for slow, low-flying drones, leading to pilot exhaustion and high maintenance costs.
• Ukraine has developed cheaper counter-drone strategies, sharing lessons with Gulf states facing similar threats.
• New technologies like short-range radars and directed energy weapons (lasers) costing as little as £10 per shot offer a more sustainable solution.