The incident involving the use of F-35 fighter jets to destroy drones that flew into Polish territory has once again raised the question of the cost ratio between offensive and defensive weapons. According to the German publication Bild, NATO forces intercepted three drones using AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. Each such missile costs around €400,000, while the drones themselves are estimated to cost several thousand euros. As a result, the operation could have cost the Alliance at least €1.2 million.
The use of expensive fifth-generation aircraft against relatively primitive drones is attracting increasing criticism from military experts. Modern threats, such as drones or homemade reconnaissance devices, are extremely cheap to manufacture and operate. However, neutralising them requires the use of complex and expensive systems, which creates an imbalance in military spending.
What alternatives are there?
In light of such incidents, many military analysts are calling for the expanded use of short-range air defence systems and electronic warfare capabilities. For example, short-range anti-aircraft systems (such as the German Gepard or American Avenger) are capable of shooting down drones at a significantly lower cost. Or electronic warfare systems, which can jam control and navigation signals, effectively turning drones into useless scrap metal. There are also laser weapons, which are being actively developed in the US, Israel and Europe, and which could become a fundamentally new and more economical alternative. The cost of a single laser shot is estimated at just a few dollars.
