CBO: Counter-Drone Defense Could Cost $7.4 Billion
A July 9 Congressional Budget Office report estimates it would cost up to $7.4 billion upfront to equip 100 U.S. military bases with layered counter-drone defenses, plus $500 million annually in operating costs. The findings come amid growing threats from hostile drone strikes and highlight both the urgency and expense of protecting American military installations.
Highlights
- The CBO estimates protecting 100 U.S. military bases with layered counter-drone systems would cost up to $7.4 billion upfront and $500 million per year in operating costs.
- The U.S. has 824 military installations tracked by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, meaning even this costly plan covers only a fraction of all bases.
- Iranian drone strikes killed six U.S. service members at a Kuwait command center in March, highlighting the real-world lethality of the drone threat.
- 135 vendors responded to a DOD counter-drone demonstration request, suggesting a competitive industrial base that could help control procurement costs.
- The CBO warns that counter-drone systems may require full replacement every four to five years as the threat continues to evolve rapidly.
A July 14 report in Stars and Stripes by Alison Bath highlighted key findings from a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) assessment released July 9, examining what it would take to defend U.S. military installations against small aerial drones.
What the Report Says
The CBO study outlines the real cost of shielding American military bases from small unmanned aerial systems. Equipping 100 bases with a layered defense architecture — combining radar, radio frequency (RF) detection, and kinetic interceptors — would cost the Pentagon as much as $7.4 billion upfront, with an additional $500 million per year in ongoing operating costs. With the Bureau of Transportation Statistics tracking a total of 824 military installations nationwide, this represents only a partial solution at an enormous price.
The Context
The urgency behind the report is hard to overstate. Iranian drone strikes have already resulted in American casualties, including six service members killed at a Kuwait command center in March, and left numerous others with traumatic brain injuries. Meanwhile, Ukraine's effective use of low-cost surface drones to disable a significant portion of Russia's Black Sea Fleet has demonstrated just how rapidly drone technology is reshaping the strategic calculus for both state and non-state actors.
Up to the Challenge?
Despite the daunting price tag, the CBO findings point to a competitive and capable industrial base. Some 135 vendors responded to a Department of Defense counter-drone demonstration request, suggesting that market competition could help contain costs as procurement scales up. However, the report cautions that counter-drone systems may require full replacement every four to five years — a stark reminder of how rapidly the threat landscape is evolving and how costly it will be to stay ahead of it.
The full CBO report, titled "Options to Counter Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems," is available for public review.
Source: Small Wars Journal by Arizona State University
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