By M M Desk
In a single night, Israel expended a staggering $1.5 billion to counter a relentless assault of Iranian ballistic missiles and drones. Brig. Gen. Ram Aminach, a former financial advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, revealed that defending against these attacks incurred costs ranging between 4-5 billion Shekel. This sum solely pertains to the expenses associated with intercepting Iranian missiles and drones, excluding the deployment costs of numerous fighter jets tasked with neutralizing these threats while they were airborne.
Aminach detailed the financial breakdown, noting that each Arrow ballistic missile defense system carried a price tag of approximately $3.5 million per missile, while the Iron Dome air defense system amounted to about $1 million per missile. Israel’s defense mechanisms, including the Arrow, Iron Dome, and David Sling, encountered an estimated 300 Iranian missiles and drones during this period. Despite the immense challenge, Israel boasts a claimed interception success rate of about 99%.
However, Iran contests these claims, asserting that its ballistic missiles managed to breach Israel’s multi-layered air defense system, targeting strategic locations such as the Nevatim Military Base and Ramon Air Base. These bases are critical to Israel’s aerial operations, housing advanced fighter jets like the F-35I Adir and F-16I Sufa. Iranian sources have named this operation “True Promise,” aiming at key Israeli military installations.
The Nevatim Air Base, home to the “Golden Eagle Squadron” operating F-35I Adir jets, reportedly endured at least 15 missile strikes, as captured by local residents’ footage. Similarly, the Ramon Air Base, hosting F-16I Sufa jets and AH-64D Apache helicopters, faced attacks, albeit with minimal damage as per Israeli military statements. Additionally, the Meron Military Base in northern Palestine, a pivotal facility overseeing operations in Syria and Lebanon, was targeted by Iranian missiles and drones.
The financial and strategic implications of this one-night confrontation underscore the intensity of regional tensions and the significant investments required for defense against sophisticated threats. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing military dynamics in the Middle East, where geopolitical rivalries often manifest in high-stakes confrontations. (With inputs from Defence Security Asia )