But there are times he gets totally wrapped up in the minutia

In Israel.

That was pretty foreseeable given that Israel bombed the heck out of Tehran and other areas again just yestarday.

Probably why Iran used their older missiles first to deplete interceptors.

Haaretz reporting right now that missiles are raining down on Israel.

Cost of interceptors - so one 50,000 r one three million dollar interceptor might be used to take down a cheap 20,000 drome.


The cost of each missile interception varies significantly depending on the air defense system used, the type of incoming threat (e.g., short-range rocket, cruise missile, or ballistic missile), and factors like production batch, inflation adjustments, and whether costs include only the interceptor missile or additional elements like operations. Figures are approximate unit costs for the interceptor missile itself (as of recent 2025–2026 data from defense budgets, reports, and analyses), since "per interception" typically refers to the expendable missile fired.

Here's a breakdown of major systems:

- **Iron Dome** (short-range rockets, primarily Israeli system): Tamir interceptor costs about **$40,000–$100,000** per missile (often cited around $50,000 in recent reports, though older or operational estimates sometimes reach $100,000–$150,000 including extras).

- **Patriot (PAC-3 / PAC-3 MSE)** (medium-range, widely used by US and allies): Around **$4 million** per missile (some export or variant figures range $4–$6 million).

- **David's Sling** (medium- to long-range, Israeli system): Stunner interceptor approximately **$1 million** per missile.

- **Arrow 2 / Arrow 3** (ballistic missile defense, Israeli system): Roughly **$2–$3 million** per interceptor (Arrow 3 often around $3 million).

- **THAAD** (terminal high-altitude ballistic missile defense, US system): About **$12–$15.5 million** per interceptor (recent FY2025–2026 estimates around $12.7–$15 million).

- **SM-3 (Aegis BMD, various blocks)**: Block IB around $9–$15 million; Block IIA up to **$28 million** or more.

- Other high-end systems: Ground-Based Interceptor (for ICBMs) can exceed **$90–$111 million** per unit.

Costs can escalate in practice because systems often fire multiple interceptors per incoming threat for higher success probability (e.g., 2 per target). Emerging technologies like Israel's Iron Beam (laser-based) promise much lower per-interception costs (potentially just dollars in electricity), but it's not yet fully operational.

These are defensive interceptor costs—the attacking missiles (e.g., drones or basic rockets) are often far cheaper, creating an economic asymmetry in prolonged conflicts. Figures come from sources like US Department of Defense budgets, Missile Defense Agency data, CSIS, and defense analyses as of 2025–2026. Exact prices can vary by contract and are not always publicly detailed.