ListNook

meckez Apr 6, 2026 +47

Cost of 1 patriot missle - $4 million. Cost of 1 Shahed drone $30.000.

47

Ancient-Bat1755 Apr 6, 2026 +23

Sometimes shooting multiple patriots as well

23

CensoredbytheGOP Apr 6, 2026 +7

This is what gets me. Ukraine has started to use cheaper drones to take out the drones since they're stupid slow lawnmower/moped engines. Automating .50 cal robots aa seems to work as well.

7

Ahelex Apr 6, 2026 +3

Battlebots strategy. Just build ramming ~~robots~~ drones.

3

CensoredbytheGOP Apr 6, 2026 +1

Kinda yeah. They have super c**** frames that are water cut. Motors off of really really c**** toys, pretty much everything supplied from China although I doubt China knows just how much.

1

Friendly-Smoke-3636 Apr 7, 2026 +1

Every time

1

cosmicrae Apr 6, 2026 +10

PAC-3 missiles are reported as ~$2 million. If they are utilizing the *Stunner interceptor* (from David's Sling) then figure around $400K each.

10

AnxiousPacifist Apr 6, 2026 +7

This calculation lacks cost of damage if that Shahed would hit

7

ScreenOk6928 Apr 6, 2026 +2

That calculation doesn't exist because it was decided to down it. It's not really possible to determine where a Shahed *will* strike while in flight because they only deviate once the target is actually reached.

2

AnxiousPacifist Apr 6, 2026 +4

Exactly. The air defense checks the trajectory of the drone and makes a guess of what it could be targeting. If value of potential target is significant, the interceptor is launched. In essence, simply saying "interceptor cost more than projectile" is a gross oversimplification. Interceptors are deployed to protect specific areas or targets. And without knowing what the target was, it's just impossible to make a "math" calculation of whether it was worth it or not.

4

idhorst Apr 6, 2026 +2

And you can then add GNP. Although in this case a 50k drone has a lot of ratio compared to a 2m missile. Furthermore missile shelflife could also play a factor. Ie the engine has a couple of months left and an overhaul of that engine costs 500k. Then basically the .missile costs 1.5m in stead of 2m.

2

AnxiousPacifist Apr 7, 2026 +1

Excellent point. I forgot about it...

1

Suikerspin_Ei Apr 7, 2026 +2

I agree there need to be more cheaper solutions to counter drones. However, I think expensive missiles are worth it to defend important buildings, valuable soldiers, innocent citizens etc.

2

filipv Apr 7, 2026 +2

Cost of 1 bulletproof vest - $500. Cost of 1 bullet - $0.30. I'm not saying there aren't more cost-effective solutions against drones, but, as a matter of principle, when comparing the cost one should always compere the cost of the measure against the damage that one c**** weapon can produce if not countered. What if that Shahed drone would cause damages of $20 million if it hit its target? What if it killed people? Then, all of a sudden, $4 million to defend against it doesn't look like such a bad deal.

2

Kaellian Apr 7, 2026 +1

Nobody is debating that they shouldn't be downed, but we've known about these for years in Ukraine, and how well they perform against traditional air defense Why were they not ready for them is the question on everyone's mind.

1

GreyClay Apr 6, 2026 +36

So another $4 million missile shooting down a $50,000 drone? I guess if anyone can afford to keep paying for that kind of return it is the Saudis.

36

PushPullLego Apr 6, 2026 +10

Would it be better to let people die to save money?

10

The_Beaver Apr 6, 2026 +9

Is that not what we voted for?

9

GreyClay Apr 6, 2026 +7

Iran has got tens of thousands of drones, and is making more every day - plus receiving shipments of new ones from Russia. What Iran *doesn’t* have is tens of thousands of ballistic missiles - you know, the things that Patriot systems are designed to shoot down. So maybe, just maybe, the precious and very limited number of PAC-2 and PAC-3 interceptors should be saved for shooting down ballistic missiles rather than Shaheds…

7

catscanmeow Apr 6, 2026 +1

laser system might be better? EMP?

1

DeciusCurusProbinus Apr 7, 2026 +1

Automated flak guns with proximity munitions or heavy calibre machine guns.

1

usuallysortadrunk Apr 6, 2026 -1

For the Saudis? Hard to say.

-1

cnr0 Apr 6, 2026

I am no longer wondering why Greece is a bankrupted country. They are trying to defend Saudi against Iran by firing 4m usd missile to a small drone? Is this a joke or what.

0

Several-Zombies6547 Apr 7, 2026 +2

The Saudis pay all the operational costs, even though the Greek military operates them.

2

StalyCelticStu Apr 6, 2026 +6

Sledgehammer to crack a nut.

6

frakkintoaster Apr 6, 2026 +3

This headline seems like it’s out of WW3

3

Black-Shoe Apr 6, 2026 +5

Training.

5

ScottOld Apr 6, 2026 +2

Greeks? What

2

Nukes-For-Nimbys Apr 6, 2026 +2

Defending places in the gulf states. Iran is shooting at everyone in the region, not just the US or Israel.

2

SlamBargeMarge Apr 7, 2026

Oh more misinformation. They're specifically targeting american military bases not schools, bridges and civilian infrastructure like america.

0

Lbreakstar Apr 7, 2026 +4

No they are not. They are targeting Infrastructure and economy since day 1.

4

Nukes-For-Nimbys Apr 8, 2026 +2

Qatari desalination plants are not an American base.

2

to_glory_we_steer Apr 6, 2026 +1

Whoop-tee-doo

1

HistoryBugs Apr 6, 2026 +1

Greek versus Persia round 2

1

Erdalion Apr 6, 2026 -2

My tax moneyyyyyyy.

-2

antivnom Apr 6, 2026 -1

SA doesn't have any income tax. And if you're a american, your country didn't give these to Saudi Arabia for free, those are sold.

-1

Erdalion Apr 7, 2026 +4

Funny you didn't consider option #3. I'm Greek, dude.

4

Greek Patriot system downs drone in Saudi Arabia

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