Politico: Washington is dealing with the dilemma of using a $2 million cost missile to shoot down a $2,000 drone!
Officials at the US Department of Defense, the Pentagon, are extremely concerned about the increasing cost of shooting down Houthi drones and missiles targeting cargo ships in the Red Sea, especially since the cost of one missile is $2 million, and its used to intercept a Houthi drone that costs $2,000, according to Politico newspaper.
Pentagon officials didn’t specify the types of weapons being used, or the range at which the Houthi drones and missiles are intercepted, for security reasons, but former Pentagon officials and experts said that only one weapon makes sense for this mission, which is the medium-range air defense missile, known as “Standard Missile-2”.
This missile can reach a range of up to 92 or 130 nautical miles.
The cost of the latest version, Block IV, is $2.1 million.
A Pentagon official said that US Navy ships shot down 38 drones and missiles in the Red Sea during the past two months.
Politico newspaper quoted a Pentagon official as saying, “Compensating the cost isn’t in our interest; Experts say this is a problem that needs to be addressed, and are urging the Pentagon to start looking at less expensive options for air defense”.
“This quickly becomes a problem because the greater benefit, even if… We shot down their missiles and drones, it will be to their advantage”.
While he confirmed that 19 countries have joined the international working group to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea, and that it includes “Arab partners,” US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced an initiative to form multinational forces from 10 countries under the name “Guardian of Prosperity,” with the aim of confronting Houthi drones and missiles at sea.
