UNITED24 Media
Ukrainian air defense specialists deployed to the Middle East to assist in countering Iranian-made Shahed-type drones have raised concerns about how US and Gulf forces are conducting interceptions.
According to The Times on March 18, the deployment followed a request from US Central Command, with around 200 Ukrainian personnel sent to Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia to provide advisory support on countering drones and missiles.
Despite public skepticism from US President Donald Trump regarding Ukraine’s role, Ukrainian teams were integrated into regional defense efforts.
Ukrainian officers cited by The Times said they were surprised by the interception methods used by US and allied forces. One senior Ukrainian air force officer told the outlet that Gulf operators had reportedly launched up to eight Patriot interceptor missiles at a single aerial target, with each missile costing over $3 million.
The same source also described instances where SM-6 missiles, estimated at around $6 million each, were used to destroy Shahed drones with an approximate cost of $70,000.
According to The Times, Ukrainian personnel contrasted this with their own operational approach, which typically relies on one or two missiles even against more complex threats such as ballistic targets. The report notes that Ukraine has refined its interception tactics over several years of large-scale combat, focusing on cost-efficiency and probability of kill.