It’s difficult to provide an exact figure for how many millions of dollars Israel is currently spending to stop Iranian missile attacks, as these costs are ongoing and fluctuate based on the intensity of attacks and defensive operations. However, here’s what we know about the costs involved:
* High Cost of Interceptors: Israel’s multi-layered air defense system (Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow) relies on expensive interceptor missiles.
* Iron Dome: Each interceptor missile costs approximately $50,000.
* David’s Sling and Arrow: These systems, designed for medium and long-range missiles, have interceptors that can cost over $2 million each, with some estimates for Arrow interceptors going up to $3.5 million.
* Significant Costs for Barrages: When Iran launches large barrages of missiles and drones, the defensive costs can be substantial. For example, some reports indicate that Israel spent over $1 billion in a single night to defend against a major Iranian attack in April 2024. Other estimates for specific Iranian attacks put Israel’s defense costs in the range of $360 million to $630 million.
* Ongoing Development and Maintenance: Beyond intercepting attacks, Israel also spends billions of dollars annually on developing, maintaining, and upgrading its sophisticated air defense systems. The US has also invested significantly, providing billions in funding for these projects.
* Economic Disparity: A key aspect of this “economic warfare” is that the interceptor missiles used by Israel are significantly more expensive than the drones and missiles often launched by Iran or its proxies. This creates a financial strain on Israel, as they must expend high-cost munitions to counter relatively cheaper threats.
While a precise daily or weekly cost is not publicly available, it’s clear that defending against Iranian missile attacks requires a multi-million, and often multi-billion, dollar investment from Israel, with substantial support from the United States.