The Patriot has always been a capable system but it is not sustainable for modern warfare like we are seeing in the Ukraine based on a quick search of the economics.
When a system cost 10 million and each missile is 4 million and you are being forced to use it to shoot down drones that can range from 10-20k each up to a couple of million so a nation might be wrecked financially in a prolonged conflict.
The Iron Dome system (from Israel) averages out at about 50k a shot so it is far more affordable and sustainable although it lacks the range of the Patriot system.
The US government will continue to send missiles until we have none left because it takes forever to replenish them nor does our nation have the capacity for a prolonged conflict because we cannot make all these diamond plated smart munitions fast enough.
Meanwhile, Russia will continue to launch cheaper strikes mixed in with their diamond plated smart munitions so they have the advantage.
The S400 and the newer system (S500) has the same economic problem to a great extent as they are not cheap either.
—”When a system cost 10 million and each missile is 4 million and you are being forced to use it to shoot down drones that can range from 10-20k each...”
The Patriot systems have only been operational for about four weeks.
Ukraine: The German-made anti-aircraft gun taking down Russian drones
Patriot is not being used to target slow moving Iranian drones - that is the work for auto cannon (14.5/23 mm) Uks have worked out targeting system based on tablet computer to aim the guns
Patriots are used to knock down high speed missiles
… until Raytheon runs out of lobbyists.
Patriot missiles cost $4-$5 million each because that’s what they can squeeze Fed.gov for.
The fact that iron dome has a better success rate and costs only $50k per shot tells you all you need to know about how little value Fed.gov gets for its money