NYT: Iran's cheap drones strain US defenses

A New York Times analysis highlights how Iran's use of cheap drones has created a significant asymmetric challenge for the United States. The report notes that the production cost of a Shahed-136 drone is between $20,000 and $50,000, while a single US Patriot interceptor missile can cost up to $8 million. This cost disparity stems from a Cold War-era defense focus on fewer, faster, and more powerful projectiles rather than mass drone raids. In response to the war, the US has sent cheaper Meprolight Surveyor interceptors to the Middle East and begun training with the system, though their deployment status remains unclear.