US anti-missile systems that have been used during the recent US-Israel and Iran conflict have incurred high costs in intercepting Iran’s aerial attacks. A single interceptor of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile systems costs around $15.5 million, while that of a Patriot PAC-3 MSE system costs around $3.9 million. The cost buildup for using these interceptors since 28th February has reached $1.31bn to $2.61bn in the UAE, $800m to $1.5bn in Kuwait, and $600m to $900m in Qatar. In contrast, aerial objects such as the Shahed-136 drone used by Iran cost approximately $20,000 to $50,000, creating a scenario in which the cost of intercepting such objects is 10 times or more than their manufacturing cost.

Missile defense systems comprise a satellite sensor and a ground or sea-based sensor, an interceptor, and a command and control system that incorporates all available data to launch orders to intercept an incoming threat. To ensure the proper functioning of a missile defense system, every component of the system must perform its function accurately, making each component a possible target in case of a conflict. Iran has used exactly this strategy and targeted radar bases in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar to blind the US defense systems. The AN/TPY-2 radar system, which costs around $500 million, was targeted in Jordan and reportedly destroyed as of March 2. Similarly, an AN/FPS-132 early warning radar in Qatar was targeted, which is valued at around $1.1 billion.

Therefore, Iran is using asymmetrical strategies to counter much more powerful adversaries. Asymmetrical strategies are used when accounting for a conventional inferiority and........

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