Asymmetric cost imbalance in Gulf air defense against Iranian Shahed-136 drones

The low unit cost of Iranian Shahed-136 loitering munitions forces Gulf states to expend high-value interceptors, such as PAC-3 and AMRAAM-ER, to maintain air superiority. This creates a long-term fiscal and logistical sustainability challenge for regional air defense architectures. The disparity highlights a shift toward attrition-based warfare tactics.