Analyst estimates US fired 609 interceptors defending Israel since 2023
Original title: US fired over 600 missile interceptors defending Israel in three years
Stephen Semler puts the cost at $11 billion through September 2026, mostly THAAD and SM-3 rounds.
A newsletter estimates the United States fired 609 ballistic missile interceptors defending Israeli territory from October 2023 through September 2026, at a cost of $11 billion. The stated mix is 378 THAAD, 186 SM-3, 43 SM-6 or SM-2, and two Patriot interceptors. The author excludes rounds used to protect US forces. The figures come from his reading of Pentagon documents, media reports, and open sources.
Unconfirmed: The interceptor counts are the author's estimates, not an official Pentagon total.
- Listed unit costs are $31 million for SM-3 and $12 million for THAAD.
- He estimates the US fired 1.5 to 2 interceptors per Israeli interceptor.
- Patriot use at Al Udeid and during the Iran War is excluded from the 609.
From the original article
13 min read at stephensemler.com
IN THIS NEWSLETTER: How the US spent $11 billion shooting down missiles for Israel since October 2023. *Latest newsletter for VIPs: US fired 19 years’ worth of Patriot interceptors in 7 months The US fired an estimated 609 ballistic missile interceptors to defend Israeli territory from October 2023 through September 2026, based on my analysis of Pentagon budget documents, media reports, and open-source intelligence.
By 0x54MUR41 · stephensemler.com
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