防空导弹“太费” 美军寻求低成本防空炮

According to information from the United States on the 9th, recent attacks by Iran on U.S. military targets in the Middle East have caused damage to multiple U.S. military bases. To enhance the air defense capabilities of these bases, the U.S. military is seeking to develop a mobile, medium-caliber air defense artillery system to intercept drones and cruise missiles.

The U.S. Air Force recently issued a request for information, seeking a low-cost, land-based air defense artillery that can continuously respond to aerial threats. According to the requirements, the new air defense artillery must meet 15 basic performance indicators, including the ability to intercept subsonic cruise missiles, small drones, and large drones flying at altitudes of approximately 5,500 meters.

The U.S. Air Force emphasized that the new air defense artillery should adopt a modular design, be lightweight and easy to transport, and be capable of rapid deployment to combat zones with limited infrastructure to address sudden threats, while also ensuring high cost-effectiveness.

Reports suggest that the U.S. Air Force's pursuit of such weapons reflects a prominent issue facing the U.S. military's air defense system, namely that the cost of air defense missiles often far exceeds that of incoming targets, and the consumption of stockpiles is significant.

According to data released by the Center for Strategic and International Studies at the end of July, the U.S. military has consumed approximately 65% of its "Patriot" air defense system interceptors in the U.S.-Iran conflict, and the stockpile of interceptors for the "THAAD" system has also decreased by 38% compared to before the conflict.