Sticker Shock And Awe: The Pentagon’s New Missile Budget Plans
The Pentagon is re-evaluating its missile procurement strategy in light of the Ukraine conflict, where low-cost drones have proven effective against expensive legacy systems. Initiatives like LUCAS and Drone Dominance Gauntlet aim to acquire more affordable drones, while the cost of existing missiles like Javelin and Stinger has increased significantly. The U.S. is also exploring alternatives like the APKWS for counter-drone roles, though even these are expensive compared to Ukrainian-developed interceptors. AI
IMPACT This shift towards cost-effective drone warfare and missile procurement could influence future defense AI development and deployment.