RUSSIA DEVELOPS $10,000 ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILE TO COUNTER UKRAINIAN DRONES
Russia is reportedly developing a low-cost surface-to-air missile priced at around €10,000, which could pose a significant challenge to Ukrainian drone operations, according to French newspaper L’Indépendant.
To reduce production costs, Russian engineers are reportedly modifying rockets from the Alazan family, originally designed for hail suppression to protect agricultural crops.
The modifications reportedly include replacing the rocket’s nose with a small military warhead, adding aerodynamic control surfaces and installing a guidance system to enable it to intercept aerial targets.
The proposed weapon is intended to provide Russia with a cheaper way to counter Ukrainian drones without relying on expensive air-defense interceptors that can cost hundreds of thousands of euros per launch.
Traditional Russian air-defense systems, including the Pantsir and S-400, are significantly more sophisticated but can involve much higher interception costs.
If successfully developed and deployed, the low-cost missile could help Russia address the growing economic challenge of defending against relatively inexpensive drones.