Reference News Network, March 20 report: According to the website of the UK's Financial Times on March 11, after Iran launched an attack on the Gulf region, Western defense companies and governments are redoubling their efforts to bring low-cost weapons capable of countering cheap drones and missiles into the battlefield.

The report states that efforts to find new methods of intercepting attack drones began formally four years ago after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In this new form of warfare, expensive air defense systems originally designed to defend against enemy aircraft and large missiles have become somewhat outdated, as drones have proven to be extremely effective for both sides in combat.

Conflicts in the Middle East further confirm this: Gulf countries have had to rely heavily on complex and expensive air defense systems such as the U.S.-made "Patriot" to intercept Iranian "Witness" drones - the same type of drone used by the Russian military in Ukraine.

Kelly Glick, a senior researcher at the Stimson Center think tank, said: "Relying heavily on fighter jets and using air defense missiles to intercept (Iranian drones) is certainly not an economical approach."

Iran has emulated the tactics of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, making extensive use of its low-cost "Witness" drones, forcing the United States, Israel, and other countries to consume expensive air defense firepower.

According to Glick's estimate, for every dollar Iran invests in drones, the UAE has to spend at least ten times the amount to shoot them down using medium-range air defense systems such as the U.S.-made "National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System".

Glick said that although Ukraine has been "leading in this area and has been actively developing lower-cost solutions," it is noteworthy that the United States has not yet "allocated sufficient resources to deploy these solutions on a large scale."

Experts emphasize that in the era of drones, strategic advantage depends not only on technology but also on the ability to rapidly innovate and mass-produce.

With the help of several domestic tech startups, Ukraine has taken the lead in using mass-produced interception drones to repel Russian attacks. This war has also spurred broader investment in the defense technology sector.

Executives from four Western defense technology startups said that Middle Eastern governments have always maintained communication with them regarding urgent procurement matters. Previously, the U.S. Pentagon had also sought assistance from Ukrainian companies in the field of interception drones.

For decades, radar has been the foundation of air defense systems, providing detection capabilities at different distances. High-value radars integrated into air defense systems such as the "Patriot" have already been deployed in the Middle East.

Ukraine's drone war has driven innovation in short-range detection alternatives. Given that standard radar cannot detect small "Witness" drones flying at low altitudes, the country's technology companies have developed a nationwide acoustic sensor network that can identify them based on their acoustic characteristics.

A number of new startups focused on short-range radar technology have also emerged.

Dutch startup Robin Radar Systems initially focused on bird detection, but in 2014 shifted its direction. Over the past three years, the company has provided its advanced IRIS 3D anti-drone radar to Ukraine. The company's CEO, Shet Hamminga, revealed that the company has currently received "a large number of inquiries from affected countries in the Middle East."

Experts say that the most promising weapons include those that use high-energy laser and microwave technologies - although these technologies have long been more viewed as science fiction than reality.

Currently, some global contractors are investing significant funds in laser weapons. Industry experts point out that once these weapons are deployed, they could achieve low-cost defense, but one challenge lies in the initial capital investment. Paul Gray, head of advanced weapons business development at British company Kinetic, said that many countries are investing in this area because it is a "reusable, continuously engaging defense system." (Translated by Li Sha)

Original: toutiao.com/article/7619247235787751982/

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