France faces an acute shortage of air-to-air missiles as it expends costly interceptors to defend the United Arab Emirates from Iranian drone attacks, highlighting a broader challenge for Western and regional forces engaged in the conflict.
French Rafale fighter jets have been conducting defensive missions over the UAE since the war began, shooting down Iranian kamikaze drones. A reported crisis meeting among senior officials last week focused on the rapid depletion of MICA missiles used in these interceptions. Each MICA missile costs between €600,000 and €700,000, an order of magnitude more expensive than the relatively simple drones it targets. Manufacturer MBDA’s production capacity is limited, and the French procurement agency (DGA) is hesitant to pursue cheaper, less effective alternatives. This creates a persistent supply bottleneck as stockpiles dwindle.
This dynamic extends to other defenders. Gulf states, including those hosting U.S. bases, appear unprepared for a protracted war. Based on Arab military reports, analysts estimate that at least 1,900 U.S.-made Patriot missiles—costing $3 million to $6 million each—have been launched to intercept incoming threats. The high cost and usage rate have led to shortages severe enough that Gulf commanders must sometimes prioritize which targets to engage. The White House has established a task force to address these supply concerns.
Israel also faces depletion. U.S. officials told media that the Israeli Defense Forces are “running critically low” on ballistic missile interceptors, entering the conflict with stockpiles already reduced from last year’s fighting. While the Israeli government denied the report, the U.S. recently expedited a major arms sale, including 12,000 bombs, to replenish Israeli stocks.
The United States, asserting an “unlimited” Pentagon stockpile, is repositioning defensive assets. Up to 48 THAAD interceptors are being relocated from other regions, including from South Korea, to the Middle East. This redeployment has raised allied concerns about creating capability gaps elsewhere.
The situation underscores a strategic imbalance. Iran claims vast, hidden stockpiles of missiles and drones, allowing it to sustain attacks. In contrast, defending allies are depleting finite, extremely expensive interceptors. This mismatch may grant Tehran a significant advantage in any prolonged escalation, forcing its opponents to manage scarce defensive resources while absorbing economic and军事 costs far disproportionate to the attacks they repel.
