Expensive But Effective? The True Cost of Drone Interception in the Black Sea – INTERVIEW

The dilemma of using pricey munitions to tackle cheap drones should not even be on the table

4 November 2026

Scrambling F-16s and firing expensive air-to-air missiles to bring down cheap drones cannot be reduced to an accounting exercise of price against performance – Sandu-Valentin Mateiu, a reserve colonel (comander) of the Romanian army. What are the alternatives?

The Black Sea has become the most dangerous sea in the world. More seafarers have died there this year than in any other maritime region. Commercial vessels crossing the area are exposed every day to the risk of missile, aerial drone or naval drone attacks.

The Romanian Air Force has shot down six drones this year, one over Estonia and five over Romanian airspace or Romania’s exclusive economic zone. They were downed with Sidewinder missiles, which cost over 350,000 euros each. The new jet-powered Geran drones recently shot down by the Ministry of National Defence are no longer ‘simple drones worth a few thousand euros’. The cost of one is close to 180,000 euros.

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Mihnea Lazăr

Mihnea Lazăr is a journalist at PressOne with three decades of experience in the media, having worked for outlets including Agerpres, Național, Gardianul, Antena 1, Pro TV, Realitatea, Adevărul, Gândul/Mediafax and Digi24.ro since beginning his career in 1996.

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