Latest news with #RedSea
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Orascom Development brings El Gouna's Red Sea Lifestyle to the UAE with Fanadir Shores and North Bay launches
Dubai, UAE – Orascom Development, a global leader in creating vibrant, integrated destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, shone a spotlight on El Gouna, its stunning coastal town on Egypt's Red Sea, at a recent visit to the UAE. During the trip, El Gouna introduced its latest waterfront real estate projects, Fanadir Shores and North Bay, featuring private luxury living, at an exclusive evening reception ahead of the 4th Annual Private Wealth Middle East Forum, where the town was a Platinum Sponsor. With an exclusive offering of just 57 units, Fanadir Shores provides privacy with direct access to the shores of the Red Sea with a private open lagoon for boats, while North Bay features more spacious living offerings, bringing effortless marina living to life. Delivery of units is set in two years' time. Contributing to El Gouna's reputation as a vibrant, integrated town offering a cosmopolitan lifestyle, Fanadir Shores, its latest project, is designed to elevate the town's premium residential offerings. The new development delivers on Orascom Development's promise of 'life as it should be' and caters to the evolving needs of its growing community. Located on El Gouna's most premium shoreline adjacent to the 80-berth Fanadir Marina, next to the prestigious La Maison Bleu Boutique Hotel, Fanadir Shores offers a fresh take on seafront living. The development features seven buildings with spacious 2- to 4- bedroom apartments, averaging 220 sqm, featuring ocean views and designed for sustainable and luxury living. For those looking for more spacious living, North Bay is the town's latest neighborhood with their newly launched phase ' Highland', primely located with open-to-sea lagoons and private boat docks for. The development offers a variety of single-family standalone villas, duplexes and penthouses with iconic design by the world-renowned architect Victor Legorreta, and prices starting at $1.8M for standalone units with a BUA of 245 sqm, going up to $3.2M for units with a BUA of 390 sqm. This project is exclusively launching 'The Pavilion', a thoughtfully designed public space in North Bay encouraging events and community gatherings, designed for community-centric living. Over the past 35-plus years, Orascom Development has grown into a leading multinational developer of prime destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. At the reception, the Group highlighted its unique approach to placemaking and its ambition to create destinations where people can live, work, stay and play with passion and purpose, offering curated experiences spanning residential properties, hospitality, commercial ventures, education and healthcare. At the events, investors, partners, and thought leaders in the region were treated to an immersive experience that brought El Gouna to Dubai through a visually compelling Virtual Reality (VR) experience. Omar El Hamamsy, Orascom Development Group CEO, said: 'Orascom Development's longstanding track record and multinational portfolio reinforce our position as a trusted developer in the region, continuously meeting evolving customer needs and global trends. As regional investors increasingly seek diversification opportunities with both lifestyle attributes and strong returns, El Gouna by Orascom Development offers a compelling blueprint for the future of destination investment – with its multicultural community of residents from more than 50 nationalities, a USD-denominated investment scheme that provides currency stability, and a comprehensive ecosystem of amenities including four world-class marinas, international education and healthcare facilities. We have pioneered a model where sustainable design principles and community programming help to drive consistent value appreciation, creating a unique proposition where financial returns and personal fulfillment go hand in hand.' Mohamed Amer, CEO of El Gouna by Orascom Development, commented: 'There's been a surge of interest in integrated coastal living, and we're pleased to see the UAE community embracing the lifestyle concept we've helped define over decades. El Gouna by Orascom Development is a proven, award-winning town with more than 35 years of legacy and success, home to a thriving international community and a model for destination development. Fanadir Shores and North Bay mark the next chapter in that legacy, bringing our distinct blend of lifestyle, sustainability, and unique architecture to live by the beautiful Red Sea.' Combining elevated design, serviced infrastructure, and a range of resort-style amenities, El Gouna delivered 371 units in 2024 and plans to deliver 410 units in 2025. This contributed to consistently strong financial performance. The Group achieved real estate sales of USD 905 million (AED 3.32 billion), increasing by 16.1% for the year 2024, including USD 274 million from El Gouna (AED 1.01 billion), an increase of 11.6% from the previous year. This growth reflects Orascom Development's ongoing journey to build thriving, integrated, and sustainable communities, where people are empowered, and the environment is respected for future generations. About El Gouna El Gouna, the fully integrated town by Orascom Development, has been the most prominent destination nestled on the Red Sea on an area of 36.9 million square meters for more than 35 years. The town encompasses 9,200 delivered residential units, 18 hotels with 2,800 rooms, schools offering various international curricula including Swiss and British certifications, an international hospital, start-up workspace facility, four marinas, two world-class golf courses, an Egyptian Premier League football club, a culture & conference center, and an array of services. Each of El Gouna's hotels is characterized by unique architectural charm. From the Upper Nubian flair of Steigenberger to the Asian-inspired design of The Chedi, which is part of The Leading Hotels of the World portfolio, and Casa Cook's down-to-earth yet stylish aesthetic, there's a hotel for every taste. The interior design across these hotels is sleek and understated, prioritizing maximum comfort. Dining in El Gouna is a culinary delight, with impeccable options featuring flavors from locally sourced ingredients, including supplies from El Gouna's own farm. The town also offers a curated selection of spas, blending oriental and far eastern treatments for a holistic relaxation experience. With a population of more than 25,000 residents of 50+ nationalities, El Gouna is only 30 minutes from Hurghada International Airport, which is only a four-hour flight from Europe's major capitals. About Orascom Development Orascom Development Holding is a leading international developer specializing in vibrant, integrated communities in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. For more than 35 years, Orascom Development has been a pioneer in creating destinations where people are inspired to live, work, and play with passion and purpose. From El Gouna's stunning Egyptian coastal town by the Red Sea to Andermatt Swiss Alps' breath-taking, year-round mountain destination, each master-planned community is a testament to Orascom Development's commitment to place-making at its finest. The integrated towns harmoniously combine residential areas with private villas and apartments, hotels, and award-winning leisure and commercial amenities – including golf courses, marinas, sports facilities, retail shops and restaurants. Orascom Development owns a land bank of more than 100 million square meters with nearly 43% developed into thriving communities in Egypt (El Gouna, Makadi Heights, O West, Taba Heights, and Byoum), in the GCC (Jebel Sifah and Hawana Salalah in Oman), and in Europe (Andermatt Swiss Alps in Switzerland, Luštica Bay in Montenegro and West Carclaze Garden Village in the UK). Orascom Development's hospitality portfolio includes 34 premium and luxury hotels with more than 7,000 rooms across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. ODH shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
A Royal Navy aircraft carrier is inside a hostile missile footprint. Can it survive?
Right now, the ships of Operation Highmast – the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and her group – will be headed for the Bab-El-Mandeb chokepoint at the south end of the Red Sea. This eight nautical mile wide gap has been the focus of international attention since 19 October 2023 when the Iranian-backed Houthis started firing missiles and drones at shipping in the area out of 'solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people'. International warships have been patrolling nearby ever since, often in the thick of the hottest naval combat for many years. The US Navy in particular fired more air defence missiles in the next 18 months than they had in the previous 30 years. The Royal Navy and others have also engaged in the defensive missile battle, to no avail. Merchant shipping is still avoiding the Red Sea. In an effort to change the situation, March saw President Trump order a surge in counter-strikes that has now cost the US more than a billion dollars in munitions, plus several MQ-9 Reaper drones shot down. The operational tempo has been such that two US Navy F/A-18 fighter jets were lost due to deck handling and landing accidents. There were also some perilously close calls as US jets were targeted by Houthi surface-to-air missiles. In a previous assault against ISIS in Somalia, the USN had already delivered the biggest carrier air strike by weight of munitions that the world has ever seen. Make no mistake, the Prince of Wales is headed into a warzone. She'll be well within the footprint of hostile missiles, a situation which the critics of aircraft carriers as an idea routinely claim is unsurvivable. But all the American firepower does seem to have achieved something. On 6 May the Houthis agreed to 'halt attacks on US warships and commercial shipping'. This sort of statement needs to be treated with due caution, but for now the Houthis appear to be mainly targeting Israel and leaving shipping alone, possibly because they have no other option. For now, the US is no longer striking the Houthis, in large part because they were getting worried about the rate at which they were using up munitions. The other thing to bear in mind is that British warships have been running the Bab-el-Mandeb gauntlet and the Strait of Hormuz one (at the entrance to the Gulf) for many years. The Strait of Hormuz was often seen as more dangerous in the past, as it is threatened by thousands of Iranian fast attack craft and missiles that only had one job, and it wasn't port visits. You can't go through the Strait of Hormuz without being rushed by multiple Iranian boats and jet skis – but it doesn't make the news. Even back in the day the threat in the Bab El Mandeb was often deemed higher than Hormuz due to the possibility of a suicide attack (which would be Iranian sponsored but easier for them to deny). Since the current shooting started, we have had a Type 45 destroyer in combat there, and a Type 23 frigate briefly, successfully destroying drones and missiles and feeding back lessons from those engagements into the system. In other words, there is nothing in this current transit that will come as a surprise, and the group will have trained for all of it. What will keep the group's High Value Units (HVUs - the carrier and supply ship) safe is layered defence. The layers start a long way out and include intelligence gathering and all sorts of information collection, increasingly in the cyber domain as covered lately in these pages. This could be as simple as a Yemeni teenager posting a selfie on social media that happens to have a drone launch rack in the background – geolocate the picture, and that's a marker on the big map. When more complex methods are used, this is often one of the ways that the carrier group's accompanying submarine does its job. Drones and electronic warfare aircraft – such as EA-18 Prowlers from the US carrier – are also sniffing the electronic wind over a vast area. The next ring is radar detection of drones or missiles in flight, which can be done at long range no matter how low the threats may be flying by high-flying radar platforms. Advanced warning of an attack could be provided from the US carrier's Hawkeye or a Crowsnest radar carried by a Merlin helicopter launched from the Prince of Wales. Much is made of our strike group's deficiencies in this regard, and correctly so, but in this case, the area will be well and truly saturated. The first line of active defence is fighters flying Combat Air Patrol, in this case F-35Bs launched from the carrier. These can shoot down cruise missiles or drones while they're still far away from the HVUs. Our F-35Bs today can use the powerful AMRAAM missile to take out airborne targets far beyond visual range, and the first test flight has already been conducted with the even further-reaching Meteor. This sort of capability creates a huge killzone for enemy weapons to fly through. Often overlooked is how capable the F-35 is at contributing to the outer two layers as well – intelligence and surveillance. As I say, this area will be saturated for the duration of the transit. The ships themselves will form into what's called a screen, with the HVUs in the middle and the escorts in rings around them. Where you put your air defence destroyers and your anti-submarine frigates is nearly infinitely flexible depending on water space and the threat, but that is the principle. This is roughly how they will be formed up now as they head down the Red Sea. At this point the general Speed of Advance becomes important. It's an unfortunate reality of the Suez canal that everyone knows when you leave it so the last thing you want to do is set a straight course at 12 knots because then everyone knows when you will be at the chokepoint. Being unpredictable is a fundamental of maritime operations, one that the Russian cruiser Moskva ignored in the Black Sea with fatal results. Supposing that the Houthis nonetheless manage to locate and track the carrier, and supposing that some kind of massive strike made it past the CAP fighters (they'd probably reinforced by quick-reaction alert birds arriving supersonically from the carrier) the next line of defence comes from the group's dedicated air defence destroyer, with its long range radar and missiles creating another kill zone for the Houthi weapons to fly through. And finally, if a lonely drone or missile or two survives to close in on one of our ships, there is close-in defence from short-range missiles or guns mounted on every vessel. These automated systems can bring down fast-flying missiles and are almost invariably effective against slow-flying drones. Between the destroyer HMS Dauntless and frigates HMS Richmond, Mendez Nunez (Spain), Ville de Quebec (Canada) and Roald Amundsen (Norway) there are a great deal of overlapping air, surface and subsurface capabilities within the group. Interestingly, they came through the canal with two formidable Arleigh Burke class American destroyers in company – although it's not clear if they will stay with them for the duration of the Red Sea or peel off to join the US carrier Carl Vinson, currently in the area. A Burke carries SM-3 and SM-6 defensive missiles that can bring down even high-end ballistics or hypersonics. As you close the chokepoint itself, you want to ensure that nothing short-range is being set up for your arrival, be that surface or subsurface drones or even mines. Here intelligence is key but also the jets, helicopters and the submarine can be used to spot brewing threats far ahead of the HVUs. One of the problems with a chokepoint like the Bab el Mandeb is that your carefully crafted screen gets squeezed as you approach it. Range is your friend at sea and geography takes it away, made worse by a traffic separation scheme that you have to pass through to let the multitude of ships heading the other way pass safely. It's not quite Suez Canal levels of predictability, but it's not far off it. Now it becomes doubly important to be able to see inland and if necessary, shoot the archer first because once the arrow is flying, reaction times are short. At some point as they approach the gap the ships will close up to Action Stations, the highest state of readiness for a warship. This involves all sensors, weapons, machinery and damage control positions being fully stood-to. Fire retardant clothing and anti-flash hoods are donned, the latter hiding the game-faces. You can't sustain this indefinitely because everyone is awake, so timing is key. If that all sounds a bit dramatic, it really isn't, certainly not if you are just passing through. As I say, this is normal operating procedure for high-risk transits and will have been practiced to death in the group and done for real many times elsewhere by many of those aboard. So far so defensive – what about strikes? I would love to see the carrier's strike capability used, but there are factors militating against it. One is the fact that the only air-to-ground weapon our F-35Bs can currently deliver is a basic smartbomb, meaning that they'd have to fly very close to their target. Another is the known surface-to-air threat from the Houthis. Probably worst, however, is the current ceasefire between the US and the Houthis, if not between the Houthis and Israel. It would probably annoy the Americans rather than please them if we kickstarted that war again: they're now known to be trying to build up their weapons stocks in case of trouble with China. If the Houthis were still firing every day the calculus would be different and I'm sure the Royal Navy, and certainly the fast jet pilots, would want to get involved. It is, after all, a Carrier Strike Group. But as it stands today, I would expect them to transit through and head off. If they are fired at, they can always go back into a defensive screen once in the relatively open waters of the Gulf of Aden and strike back from there, as the US Navy has done on many occasions. It's also worth noting that a US carrier has been operating here and up in the Red Sea, nearly continuously since early 2024, sometimes with only one or two destroyers in the screen. Prince of Wales will have far more ships and because the transit is short they will be more focused. In other words, there isn't much to fear for our boys and girls in the strike group. Fair winds and following seas to the ships of Operation Highmast. My hope is they'll get through safely, fall out from Action Stations, clear the Houthi missile envelope and immediately start spinning slightly exaggerated yarns about it all.
Vogue Arabia
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vogue Arabia
Rising Saudi Models Amira, Taleedah and Zahra Shine Against the Kingdom's Stunning Desert Backdrop
Located along the Red Sea, Desert Rock hotel is a real social media phenomenon, with luxury suites embedded within magnificent rock formations for an experience that feels both luxurious and otherworldly. Walking around, the topography stands as both a gateway to the past, and a portal to the future. Along the shores of the Red Sea, striking black desert sands, rich in volcanic minerals, stand as a testament to the region's unique geology. The sea itself, calm yet ever-rolling, mirrors the quiet power of the landscape. In this place where time stays still, Amira Al Zuhair, Taleedah Tamer, and Zahra Hussain rise as the faces of the future, representing Saudi Arabia on a global fashion scale. They celebrate feminine energy, with a rock-solid foundation. Whether bathed in sunlight or moonlight, this rugged landscape is a runway like no other. Amira Al Zuhair Saudi-French model Amira Al Zuhair made history as one of the first Saudi models to star in Chanel's Métiers d'Art Spring 2022 campaign, and this groundbreaking debut helped cement her place in the international fashion world. She walked exclusively for Alaïa at Paris Fashion Week in 2024 and has also graced the runways for labels like Balmain, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Missoni and more. As the kingdom's creative scene flourishes, Al Zuhair has become her country's ambassador on the international fashion stage – and at home. 'What I love most about my heritage is how deeply-rooted it is in tradition, yet constantly evolving,' she says. 'Shooting in the kingdom has been an incredibly enriching experience. The landscapes are breathtaking, and there's a special kind of pride that comes from sharing this beauty, spirit and cultural richness with the world.' Al Zuhair admires supermodels Naomi Campbell and Gisele Bündchen, and is also deeply inspired by Malala Yousafzai, whose fearless advocacy for women's rights and access to education continues to move her. A former elected member of the UK Youth Parliament, Al Zuhair studied philosophy, politics and economics at King's College London. She is the epitome of brains and beauty, and is excited for what the future holds for her career – and her kingdom. Taleedah Tamer The scent of fresh mint instantly transports Saudi model Taleedah Tamer back to her childhood, which was spent in her hometown, Jeddah. She later moved to Milan for university, balancing schoolwork with castings. Today, her jet-setting life smells like 'airplane air, adventure, and home,' she shares. When Tamer was 17, she made history as the first Saudi model to walk in a Paris Haute Couture show, debuting in the Antonio Grimaldi fall/winter 2018/2019 presentation. Fast forward to 2024 and she made headlines yet again at Riyadh Fashion Week, walking the Hindamme runway with her cousin, pop star Mishaal Tamer. The duo appeared with arms linked, wearing matching T-shirts emblazoned with the statement: 'Saudi Arabia is the future,' designed by Saudi creative Lina Malaika in collaboration with Hindamme's founder, Mohammed Khoja. 'Every day, I feel inspired by those around me who choose to be good and to be their authentic selves,' says Tamer, who enjoys working with fellow models on her home turf. 'The best thing about shooting here is the feeling of support from the community – we're all joined in the same purpose to help develop the industry in our kingdom. It's fun and obviously challenging, but we're all working together really hard to create art.' Zahra Hussain 'Every time I walk into Saudi, I feel an immediate peace – like the country just gives you a hug,' model Zahra Hussain says fondly. She deeply appreciates the capital's hospitality, and how energetic, lively and vibrant it is. 'Moments from working in Saudi have built up to be the best experiences of my life,' shares Hussain, who has walked both seasons of Riyadh Fashion Week. She has also walked for Brunello Cucinelli, in addition to starring in campaigns for Ferragamo, Pomellato and Adidas x KAF by KAF – each highlighting a different facet of her dynamic presence. 'There's so much talent in the fashion industry in Riyadh, and they're paving such a remarkable path for Arabian fashion,' she reflects. As Hussain approaches graduation from the University of Manchester in International Business, Economics and Finance this summer, her focus extends beyond personal achievement – she hopes to to organise a charity fundraiser for girls' education in Afghanistan. Central to her journey is her mother, Riz, who co-owns a pharmaceutical business with Hussain's father. 'I'd be lucky if I even end up half the woman that she is," she says with a smile. With a growing body of work across both runway and editorial, Hussain is quickly proving her versatility and star quality, making waves in the European fashion scene while establishing herself as a standout face to watch in the MENA region and beyond.
Vogue Arabia
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vogue Arabia
Editor's Letter: Celebrating Saudi Women, Creativity, and Cultural Evolution
Welcome to our annual Saudi issue, a themed edition of Vogue Arabia that pays homage to the Kingdom. If you might recall, our inaugural issue was published in June 2018, the month that women were allowed to start driving. Our cover – featuring HRH Princess Hayfa bint Abdullah Al Saud behind the wheel of a red convertible in the desert of Jeddah – was talked about globally, and it is still a favourite of mine. But so many things have changed since then… Saudi Arabia has done an incredible job in establishing its creative industries, and supporting art and fashion. While doing so, new policies and changes in mentalities have finally placed women at the centre of this cultural zeitgeist. I recently heard an impressive intervention by HRH Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, the Saudi ambassador to the United States, that I believe sums it up perfectly: 'The women of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we're not tokens. We're not boxes to tick. We're women who are dedicated to the development, not just of our country, but of our families, and our neighbourhoods. And if we thrive, ladies and gentlemen, I promise you the women of the world thrive, because we all deserve the path forward.' With a country bursting with talent – and spectacular landscapes – putting together this issue was an exciting creative challenge. We started at the Red Sea, against the scenic beauty of the Desert Rock Resort, where we profiled three young Saudi models taking Arab beauty to international runways. In Taif, we met Nora Alharthi, the female entrepreneur breaking glass ceilings and establishing her business in the male-dominated world of the rose industry. In Riyadh, we caught up with fashion designer Ahmed Hassan, cofounder of KML, one of the semi-finalists for the world-renowned LVMH Prize. And, we stopped by London to photograph the latest pre-fall trends on DJ Nooriyah, whose accolades include a historical performance at Glastonbury. Although I still remember visiting Saudi years back when the country didn't offer tourist visas, things now have changed drastically, with the Kingdom eager to welcome guests and proudly display its legacy and history. Personally, I was always greeted with a smile, as Saudis are known for their generous hospitality. Surely, this was the same level of welcome experienced by Georgina Rodríguez and Cristiano Ronaldo, the country's news-making residents. For our cover story, we joined Rodríguez as she got ready for her first-ever Met Gala in New York City, and invited football's biggest icon to conduct the intimate interview. Between coffee and hairspray, they discuss family life and the pros and cons of being in the spotlight, and look back at two eventful years of living in the Kingdom. I hope you enjoy reading.
Globe and Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
A $500 attack drone costs millions to repel. It's an economic war, and the West is losing
Omar Saleh is the chief commercial officer at North Vector Dynamics Paul Ziadé is the chief executive officer at North Vector Dynamics and an associate professor at the University of Calgary Canada and its allies face a new kind of economic warfare. In early 2024, a US$2.1-billion U.S. Navy destroyer used a US$2.1-million SM-2 missile to shoot down a US$500 one-way attack drone launched by Houthi rebels over the Red Sea. It wasn't the first time. Over several weeks, the United States and its allies expended more than a billion dollars in high-end munitions defending commercial shipping lanes against threats that, in many cases, cost the enemy a few hundred dollars each to launch. This isn't a tactical mismatch. It's an economic war – and we're losing it. For more than a decade, Western defence procurement has drifted toward the exquisite. Precision, complexity and integration have become synonymous with capability. But in Ukraine, Gaza, Yemen and across every theatre of war now defined by drones, the shape of modern warfare has shifted. The most strategically disruptive systems aren't the most advanced – they're the most affordable, adaptable and numerous. Ukraine says Russia launched its biggest drone attack yet, part of an escalating campaign Sudan declares UAE 'enemy state' after wave of drone strikes on its Red Sea port And yet, most Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (CUAS) today are built to fight a different war. A war of doctrine, not of contact. A war where every engagement is clean, jammed signals mean safety and supply lines never break. Where the defender always has more – more equipment, more time, more missiles. That kind of war doesn't exist any more. Drones have flipped the battlefield. Every new drone engagement pushes the same question to the surface: how long can Canada and its allies outspend an adversary before the ledger becomes the real battlefield? In Ukraine, US$39,000 Shaheds and US$35,000 Lancets have knocked out multimillion-dollar NATO tanks and air defence systems. In Gaza, rockets costing a few hundred dollars have triggered US$40,000–US$50,000 Iron Dome interceptors – and occasionally slipped through. In the Red Sea, low-end drones have forced the U.S. Navy to expend US$3-million missiles while still managing to strike commercial vessels. Across every theatre, the attacker's return on investment keeps improving. Even when intercepted, the cost ratio favours the offence. When not, the damage speaks for itself. According to the U.K.'s Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a British defence and security think tank, drones are now responsible for 60 to 70 per cent of all damaged and destroyed Russian equipment in Ukraine. Many of these are low-cost tactical drones operating within 10- to 30-kilometre ranges. A growing proportion are equipped with AI guidance, allowing them to autonomously lock on to targets even if radio frequency links are jammed. Research by CSIS shows that while human-piloted drones achieve 10- to 20-per-cent hit rates, AI-enabled systems can exceed 70 to 80 per cent, reducing the number of drones needed to destroy a target by a factor of four. This means adversaries can now field smaller, cheaper and smarter swarms, making each engagement harder to detect, harder to track, harder to kill. And every step in that chain bleeds time, money and readiness. And now the math is getting worse. Sure, defence has always cost more than offence. That's not new. You spend more to protect something valuable than to destroy something expendable. But the current dynamic goes well beyond asymmetry. These drones are not just nuisance threats. They're destructive, strategic tools of exhaustion. Their job isn't just to penetrate air defences. It's to exhaust them. It's to force defenders to burn through interceptors, reposition assets and respond faster than procurement cycles allow. The goal isn't precision. It's volume. Time. Attrition. This is not about one drone versus one missile. It's about the balance of industrial capacity and the economics of attrition. If the cost to stay in the fight keeps rising for defenders and falling for attackers, the outcome won't hinge on technology. It'll hinge on who runs out of options first. Why, then, do we continue to field US$15-million truck-mounted CUAS to intercept drones worth less than a used iPhone? The problem isn't capability – it's culture. The Western defence procurement ecosystem isn't built to reward cost-efficiency. It rewards integration, vendor relationships, program longevity and adherence to legacy doctrine. Major defence firms still push gold-plated, monolithic systems built for complex and tightly controlled battlefields. And for high-end threats, this makes sense. But against swarms of cheap drones, this is like buying a luxury SUV to operate a motorcycle courier service – reliable, expensive and completely mismatched to the problem. The result is predictable: exquisite systems deployed for every threat, until the cost-per-kill breaks the budget and operational tempo grinds to a halt. This is where conventional military logic breaks down. If you design a missile to hit a drone with 98-per-cent reliability and a $100,000 price tag, you'll win every engagement. That is, until you run out of money, interceptors or political will. That's not a strategy. That's a liability. As Gen. Sir Patrick Sanders, former U.K. chief of the general staff, warned in late 2023, 'We are now in a race to mass. Wars of the future will be won by those who can deploy at scale, not by those with the most sophisticated single asset.' This point applies far beyond Britain: mass, modularity and replenishment will define survivability in the drone age. Modern CUAS architecture needs to do more than just bring down drones. It must bend the cost curve of battlefield survivability. That means building systems around a new set of assumptions: That sensing and targeting systems can be blinded or thrown off. That there may be nothing to jam, either because control runs through fibre-optic cable or because it's guided by AI that won't miss. That the next wave won't be the last one. What's needed is a shift – from complex, centralized systems toward modular, distributed and affordable components that can degrade gracefully under fire, replenish quickly and keep operating without perfect infrastructure or exquisite command-and-control. This isn't a call to abandon integration. It's a call to rethink where the centre of gravity is in CUAS architecture. And that is not in centralized control towers, but in distributed launch points. Not in high-profile weapons platforms, but in low-cost surveillance drones and expendable strike units. Some defence firms are already moving in this direction. Others are still locked into exquisite, top-heavy systems – built to serve entire divisions, not squads – that can't deploy without weeks of preparation. But the battlefield is no longer waiting for integration timelines or procurement cycles. It's defined by who can absorb losses, reconstitute quickly and operate without the illusion of perfect conditions. Canada, with its $26.5-billion defence budget and 1.76 per cent of GDP spending – below NATO's 2-per-cent target – can't afford to fire million-dollar missiles at $500 drones. Modernizing NORAD and meeting NATO commitments demand affordable, scalable defences against this growing threat. Procurement agencies must prioritize systems that can be deployed by platoons, resupplied in hours and purchased in volume. The future doesn't belong to the side with the most expensive defence system. It belongs to the side that can afford to keep fighting – and defend long enough to win.
