BCR.

This is coolbert.

Hootie Tootie got the power!

BCR = A benefit–cost ratio (BCR)

“'That quickly becomes a problem because the most benefit ... is in their favor,'”

"A $2M missile vs. a $2,000 drone: Pentagon worried over cost of Houthi attacks"

From https://www.politico.com | by LARA SELIGMAN and MATT BERG | 12/19/2023.

"As American warships rack up kills against Houthi drones and missiles in the Red Sea, Pentagon officials are increasingly alarmed not just at the threat to U.S. naval forces and international shipping — but at the growing cost of keeping them safe."

[....]

"The cost of using expensive naval missiles — which can run up to $2.1 million a shot — to destroy unsophisticated Houthi drones — estimated at a few thousand dollars [$] each — is a growing concern, according to three other DOD officials."

Those American destroyers can carry up to 96 Standard Arm surface to air missiles, and can blow one of these drones out of the sky almost with impunity. But once all of those missiles are expended, the American destroyer will have to return to a USA port to reload a new weapons complement. 

To what extent weapons such as the 20 mm phalanx CIWS or a Helios laser beam system can engage and also destroy the drones I am not sure. The USN navy seems to have the intention to destroy the  drones when spotted from the longest distance off, so that means a lot of missiles fired all the time not a good idea if you intend to have a ship on station for a long time.

$2.000 commercial drones, give the advantage to the attacker at a ratio of 500 to one $ cost effectiveness. Even if the Hootie Tootie begin to use a Shahed-136 drone, cost-effectiveness remains in overwhelming favor of the attacker. Standard Arm ain't cheap.

coolbert.