The high cost of using fighters to down Iranian drones has significant geopolitical implications for regional stability. The cost ratio of $20-28 for every $1 Iran spends on a Shahed drone is a major concern, as it imposes a massive financial burden on the United States and its Gulf partners. This cost asymmetry gives Iran a strategic advantage, pressuring the coalition to either invest in cheaper interceptors or accept a higher level of drone activity. The use of expensive fighter-borne missiles to intercept cheap drones also weakens deterrence and heightens escalation risk, making it a challenging situation for the coalition to navigate.

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