Gulf states including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are looking at a Ukrainian-designed interceptor drone priced at about $2,500 as a lower-cost answer to Iranian attacks that are eating into stocks of US made air defence missiles, according to the Japanese company marketing the system overseas, reports Reuters.
The interest has risen sharply since the start of the US Israeli war with Iran, when Tehran began launching repeated waves of low-cost, mass-produced drones, including Shahed models like those used by Russia in the war in Ukraine.
The response from Gulf states and US forces has largely relied on expensive interceptor missiles, highlighting a wider change in modern air warfare, where large numbers of cheaper systems can gradually drain inventories of advanced defensive weapons.
Toru Tokushige, chief executive of Terra Drone, said customers in the Middle East had started questioning the economics of relying on high-end missiles to stop relatively cheap drones, and that inquiries from the region had increased since the war began.
Terra Drone said each of its interceptor drones cost 400,000 yen, or about $2,526. By comparison, a ground-launched Patriot interceptor missile can cost roughly $4 million, while a Shahed drone is estimated to cost as little as $20,000.
In the first week of the conflict, Iran launched more than 1,000 drones, and it is estimated to have the capacity to produce around 10,000 a month.
Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Tokyo and the UAE embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Terra Drone, previously known for its commercial drone business, said last month it had entered the military market through a partnership with Ukrainian start-up Amazing Drones. The two companies are working on the Terra A1, an interceptor drone designed to counter Shahed attacks launched by Russia against Ukraine.
Under the arrangement, Terra Drone will market the interceptor abroad while also contributing investment and manufacturing expertise.
The Terra A1 has not yet been tested in combat. Tokushige said the drone is expected to be delivered to Ukraine’s military in the coming months for operational trials.
Terra Drone already supplies survey and inspection drones to Saudi Aramco, the Saudi state oil company. Tokushige said the Japanese firm could use that foothold in the kingdom to support the establishment of interceptor drone production in the Middle East.
He said the project could also play to Japan’s manufacturing strengths.
