War with Iran?

[Bengalzona]

(06-21-2019, 06:55 AM)hollodero Wrote: Well the radar stations etc. exist anyway, and the Iranians used a home-grown missile system called Khordad [some number] to shoot down the drone. 50 km range, and it worked. The system even evolved recently. They don't need any outside systems, the production is self-sufficient, including the Sayyad missiles they launch. Also, even if it weren't, I guess some countries would be happy to help Iran out to shoot down more 100 million dollar US toys.

Now I could not find an estimated cost for these Sayyad missiles. Iran has a mass production of those. So probably it won't be just as high. A generous range would probably be 100.000-2 million (though I doubt it's as expensive to produce as it would be to buy a foreign missile). So best case scenario, the US loses that financial battle 55:1. But probably more around 100:1.

I get it's a good deal for drone manufacturers though, and the folks working there. And that sure creates some tax revenue from the tax-funded production. If that's a sustainable economic model seems a bit questionable though.

This missile, like all home-grown Iranian missiles, is derived from previous Russian designs. So, yeah, they did need an outside system to base it upon. And as we already know from Iranian rockets fired from Yemen, the Iranians do have issues acquiring certain production items (most notably certain ingredients in rocket fuels) and they have a tendency to use replacement ingredients. With regards specifically to SAM's, some of the advanced electronics necessary for a missile traveling at Mach 2+ to acquire and reach its target requires some rare and specifically processed materials that you aren't going to find out in Sanford & Sons' junk yard. It is probable that Iran recycles these materials for older Russian missiles they have in stock. But acquiring new materials through black market sources will be more expensive. Mass production of any particular missile in the world usually only mean a handful of missiles per month in highly developed countries. In Iran, the probably means 2 to 5 at best. Nobody produces these things like they were cannon shells.

Moreover, why should the U.S. worry how much is being spent on our drones when the Saudis are paying anyway?