Death in Ukraine often comes out of the blue. Vladimir Putin’s forces are covering Ukrainian airspace with cheap Iranian-made drones. In the past, shooting flying assassins has also been an economic problem – at least until now.
It is difficult to understand what is happening in the clouds in the east and south of the country. According to Ukrainian information, 98 Iranian Shahed drones have whizzed through the sky since August 30 alone – always flanked by Russian air and ground missiles.
In addition to logistical challenges due to the enormous amount of missiles, the Ukrainian armed forces also face economic challenges when it comes to defense.
Modern protection, expensive shot
Western partners have equipped President Volodymyr Zelensky’s forces with the latest technology to defend the airspace. Germany supplied the Iris-T, the US the NASAMS air defense system and even the gold standard, the Patriot.
The problem: Depending on the type, destroying such a drone can cost between $140,000 and $500,000 per shot. The current Patriot interceptor missile defies all economic reason. According to a report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), it costs about $4 million per shot.
Vladimir Putin buys the so-called kamikaze drone relatively cheaply from the Iranian terrorist regime. Estimated price per piece: between $20,000 and $50,000.
Cheetah – does old equipment change things?
But Ukraine is increasingly succeeding in turning the tables. Above all, the Gepard anti-aircraft tank – already discarded in many places – is taking out Putin’s death drones in large numbers, as a recently published video recording illustrates.
Based on the images, Colonel Markus Reisner of the federal army estimates the costs of shooting down the two drones at a paltry 22,000 euros. “Not bad for the old comrade,” Reisner told krone.at. The cheetah is said to have fired four volleys. On 22 My incendiary grenades This would result in a total of 88 pieces per series. A grenade from existing stocks costs about 250 euros.
CSIS military experts Mark Cancian and Tom Karako described the previous financial imbalance last year: “The launch of $4 million missiles against Russian cruise missiles worth $250,000 could be justified if these missiles hit sensitive targets. Firing a $4 million missile at a $50,000 Iranian Shahed-136 drone would likely not be justified.”
So it is not surprising that Germany ordered the production of new ammunition in February. As the German Ministry of Defense announced in Berlin on Tuesday, Rheinmetall has delivered an initial five-figure number of cartridges. However, the cost of new ammunition is slightly higher: the total price for delivery is 168 million euros, or 560 euros per grenade.
More cheetahs towards the end of the year
The German federal government wants to supply Ukraine with 45 additional Gepard anti-aircraft tanks by the end of the year. “In addition, we want to deliver another thirty Gepard tanks by the end of the year in cooperation with the US,” Brigadier General Christian Freuding recently told “Welt am Sonntag”.
This is also desperately needed, because the Ukrainian air defense network has greatly improved, but is not yet close enough. The Ukrainians are repeatedly overwhelmed by the sheer mass of cheap drones. Only 65 of the 98 kamikaze drones mentioned above could be captured.
The others? Destroyed houses, dead civilians and soldiers on the streets and shattered cityscapes show every day that the victims of this war of aggression cannot be compensated in money. Million euros or not.
Brand Shahed homemade?
Weapons experts have also examined Russian drones shot down in Ukraine. Their conclusion: Russia now produces the Iranian model itself under the name Geran-2. The British Secret Service also recently reported this. Reisner expects a number of 6,000 units per year in the future. There is a risk of mass production of the flying killers – and Ukraine needs every shot it can get to take them out of the sky in large numbers in the future.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
