Surface-to-air missiles vs interceptor drones: Which is better for modern air defense?

A new comparison says surface-to-air missiles still outperform interceptor drones for fast, long-range air threats.

Missiles offer greater speed, range, and suitability for cruise missiles and other high-end targets.

Interceptor drones are cheaper and more sustainable for defeating small UAVs and swarm attacks.

The tradeoff is cost per interception: low-cost drones can force defenders to spend far more on each shot.

Military air defenses are adapting by mixing systems to balance speed, coverage, and affordability.