Iran's cheap drones are draining costly US and Israeli interceptors A new report and expert analysis reveal a growing concern about the sustainability of U.S. and Israeli air defenses as they face a surge in Iranian drone attacks. Despite high interception rates, the cost imbalance between Iran’s low-cost weapons and the expensive interceptors used to counter them is creating a critical challenge. According to a report obtained by Fox News Digital from the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), more than 90% of Iranian projectiles have been intercepted during the conflict, thanks to a layered regional air defense system. However, this success has come at a steep price. Iran’s least expensive weapons, including drones and cluster munitions, are proving to be the most disruptive, forcing U.S. and Israeli forces to use costly interceptors to neutralize them. The report highlights a deliberate Iranian strategy to dismantle the air defense architecture that enables these intercepts. Iran has targeted energy infrastructure to disrupt markets and used cluster munitions to increase the effectiveness of its attacks. This approach has strained interceptor stockpiles across the region, with Gulf states reporting significant depletion. Bahrain, for example, may have used up to 87% of its Patriot missiles, while the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have each consumed around 75% of their interceptors. Qatar has also used approximately 40% of its inventory. Israel, too, is facing pressure on its interceptor reserves. While officials have not publicly confirmed stockpile levels, the report notes signs of rationing, including decisions to avoid intercepting certain cluster-munition threats to preserve more advanced systems. Experts warn that the cost disparity between Iranian weapons and U.S.#iran #qatar #united_arab_emirates #bahrain #jinsa
