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4 comments

[–] jobes 1 points (+1|-0)

I find it odd that they didn't mention the actual monetary cost of operating the Iron Dome in this. I've seen as low as $25,000 per Iron Dome missile, but it could range in the $40,000 - $50,000 range. The Hamas dirty rockets are like $900 each. That's a huge financial hit to Israel The United States for each rocket Israel has to shoot down.

[–] TheRedArmy [OP] 1 points (+1|-0) Edited

Well, if you save $500K worth of damage to infrastructure, injured civilians, damaged buildings, lost supplies/vehicles and stuff, then you still come out ahead, (relate to letting the enemy missiles hit) even with the relative cost of the offensive/defensive mechanisms.

EDIT: Which, that may or may not be the case. I have no idea, except that I know they purposely let some missiles hit without defending them if it will hit open, undeveloped areas with minimal civilians. So there's some cost-analysis going on; whether it's a net positive or not is probably almost impossible to know.

[–] jobes 1 points (+1|-0)

True, that is a good point. On the flip side, they could intentionally launch cheaper and cheaper rockets that may have less of a payload just to try and bait the Iron Dome (maybe they already do that?)