If MANPADs are interspersed amongst civilians, regaining that territory from the air will involve levelling that area with carpet bombing at 35,000 feet. This is not a practical tactic when it’s your territory. I understand that our best ones cost a quarter of a million dollars apiece. This is a pretty darned good deal if one operated by someone who can point a gun is almost a sure thing at taking out a skilled flight crew and a $40-80 million dollar aircraft. Scary.
“I understand that our best ones cost a quarter of a million dollars apiece.”
Google tells me that an Igla can be bought on the worldwide black market for about $100K each.
In the case of the Rebels in Ukraine, they were lying around all over the place in Soviet-Era depots. Which is likely where many of the ones on the black market came from in the first place.
As many as 175 Igla’s were reported stolen from Ukrainian Army sites back in March.