16 Apr. 24
Israel reportedly spent a staggering $1.5 billion in just one night to defend against Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, according to Brig. Gen. Ram Aminach, a former financial advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces. The cost of intercepting these attacks amounted to around 4-5 billion Shekel, excluding the expenses related to deploying fighter jets to counter these threats.
Aminach provided a breakdown of the expenses, stating that each Arrow ballistic missile defense system costs approximately $3.5 million, while the Iron Dome air defense system costs about $1 million per missile. Israel’s defense systems, which include Arrow, Iron Dome, and David Sling, faced around 300 Iranian missiles and drones during this period. Israel claims a high success rate of about 99% in intercepting these threats.
Iran, however, disputes Israel’s claims, asserting that its ballistic missiles successfully penetrated Israel’s air defense system, targeting key military installations such as the Nevatim Military Base and Ramon Air Base, which are crucial for Israel’s aerial operations featuring advanced fighter jets like the F-35I Adir and F-16I Sufa.
The Nevatim Air Base, home to the “Golden Eagle Squadron” operating F-35I Adir jets, reportedly experienced at least 15 missile strikes, as documented by local residents. Similarly, the Ramon Air Base, hosting F-16I Sufa jets and AH-64D Apache helicopters, was targeted, although Israeli military statements indicated minimal damage. Additionally, the Meron Military Base in northern Palestine, overseeing operations in Syria and Lebanon, was also hit by Iranian missiles and drones.
This significant financial and strategic episode highlights the ongoing tensions and substantial investments required for defense in the Middle East, where geopolitical rivalries often lead to high-stakes confrontations. The incident serves as a reminder of the complex military dynamics in the region.
