[Goose]

It seems defense against the drones with a much more expensive missiles can only be temporary. 

The cost of the drone is not the comparator, it is the cost of the damage caused by the drone.

BC

While I understand your point, it isn't the whole story, unfortunately. If Russia can inflict disproportionate costs upon Ukraine that Ukraine (or it's supporters) cannot sustain, Russia wins. If Russia can afford to spend 36K or so to cost the West 1 million dollars, eventually we run out of money. It would never come to that however, because long before we reached that point, we would quit supplying missiles. That probably would occur not because of the cost but rather our inability to build them fast enough.

Ukraine proudly pointed out they are the only nation to have tactically reloaded NASAMS while under attack. That's great, but to shoot down those drones cost 48 million dollars, give or take. It did preserve Ukrainian infrastructure that in some ways is literally priceless, because the transformers etc. needed to replace it are simply not available off the shelf. While they are being built, Ukrainians die due to lack of services (like heat). However, we can't build 48 AMRAAMS a day. It is probable Iran can build 48 of their drones a day. This situation is not sustainable. One day, Ukraine is out of AMRAAMS. Then what?

[Goose]

It seems defense against the drones with a much more expensive missiles can only be temporary. 

The cost of the drone is not the comparator, it is the cost of the damage caused by the drone.

BC

While I understand your point, it isn't the whole story, unfortunately. If Russia can inflict disproportionate costs upon Ukraine that Ukraine (or it's supporters) cannot sustain, Russia wins. If Russia can afford to spend 36K or so to cost the West 1 million dollars, eventually we run out of money. It would never come to that however, because long before we reached that point, we would quit supplying missiles. That probably would occur not because of the cost but rather our inability to build them fast enough.

Ukraine proudly pointed out they are the only nation to have tactically reloaded NASAMS while under attack. That's great, but to shoot down those drones cost 48 million dollars, give or take. It did preserve Ukrainian infrastructure that in some ways is literally priceless, because the transformers etc. needed to replace it are simply not available off the shelf. While they are being built, Ukrainians die due to lack of services (like heat). However, we can't build 48 AMRAAMS a day. It is probable Iran can build 48 of their drones a day. This situation is not sustainable. One day, Ukraine is out of AMRAAMS. Then what?