Romanian Army Defends Missile Costs: 'Citizen Safety Has No Price'

The Romanian Army has publicly addressed concerns about the financial cost of missiles deployed against drones entering the country's airspace. Defense officials argue that the crucial question is not the price of a missile, but the potential cost if it were not launched.

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Everyone asks how much the missile costs. Fewer ask how much it would cost if it were not launched.

In a statement on Facebook, the Defense Staff drew parallels to everyday safety measures. "It's like saying a car's airbag is too expensive, without considering the value of the life it saves. Or that a fire extinguisher is a useless expense, until the day it saves your home," the army explained.

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It's like saying a car's airbag is too expensive, without considering the value of the life it saves. Or that a fire extinguisher is a useless expense, until the day it saves your home.

Officials stressed that launching a missile is a decision based on protecting the population, not on financial considerations. "A missile is not fired to save money. It is fired to eliminate a danger. When an unidentified drone enters Romania's airspace, the decision is not made by comparing the price of the drone with the price of the missile. It is made by comparing the risk with the value we must protect: people's lives," the institution stated.

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A missile is not fired to save money. It is fired to eliminate a danger. When an unidentified drone enters Romania's airspace, the decision is not made by comparing the price of the drone with the price of the missile. It is made by comparing the risk with the value we must protect: people's lives.

The army concluded that "citizen safety has no price," and "the most expensive decision can, in fact, be to do nothing." This message comes as Romania plans to acquire dedicated anti-drone systems starting late this year, with interim Defense Minister Radu Miruță explaining the use of F-16 fighter jets against drones is a necessity in areas lacking ground-based air defense coverage, though not the classic approach.

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Citizen safety has no price, and the most expensive decision can, in fact, be to do nothing.