Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Are cheap one-way attack drones making modern guided missile warships obsolete?
In this video, we examine the growing challenge posed by mass-produced drone swarms and the economics of naval air defense. Using detailed combat simulations in DCS World and Sea Power, we compare how a modern Arleigh Burke Flight III destroyer and the legendary WWII Yamato battleship perform against the same large-scale drone attack.
Scenario 1 features a single Arleigh Burke III armed with SM-2, SM-6, and ESSM surface-to-air missiles defending against 100 Shahed-136 kamikaze drones. Scenario 2 replaces the destroyer with the battleship Yamato, relying on its heavy anti-aircraft guns and massive ammunition reserves to counter the same threat.
We calculate and compare the total cost of missiles and gun ammunition expended, exploring whether the cost-exchange ratio between cheap drones and expensive interceptors could reshape the future of naval warfare. Could heavily armed gun warships offer a more economical solution to drone swarms, or do modern missile destroyers remain the superior choice?
Topics covered:
• Drone warfare
• Shahed-136 attack drones
• Arleigh Burke Flight III destroyers
• SM-2, SM-6, and ESSM missiles
• Yamato battleship
• Naval air defense
• Drone swarm tactics
• Defense economics
• DCS World simulation
• Sea Power simulation
• Modern naval warfare
• Future warship design
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Grim Reapers 2 - WWII naval battles: youtube.com/channel/UCZzvHfFzIpMrvgAbgZDUX9A
Grim Reapers 3 - Full DCS missions youtube.com/channel/UCg7C1fVGdxz3VSz1-zxWcBQ
0:00 Intro
3:54 Aleigh Burke Flight III DDG vs 100 Shahed Drones
11:39 Super Yamato BB vs 100 Shahed Drones
SOCIAL MEDIA
WEBSITE: grimreapers.net
STREAM(Cap): twitch.tv/grimreaperscap
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TWITTER: twitter.com/GrimReapers_
DISCORD: discord.gg/cATmE3d
THANK YOU TO: Mission Makers, Admin, Staff, Helpers, Donators & Viewers(without which, this could not happen)
#DroneWarfare #NavalWarfare #Shahed136 #ArleighBurke #YamatoBattleship #MissileDefense #MilitaryAnalysis #DCSWorld #SeaPower #ModernWarfare #BattleshipVsDestroyer #DroneSwarm #WarshipTechnology #MilitarySimulation #DefenseEconomics #FutureOfNavalWarfare
Are cheap one-way attack drones making modern guided missile warships obsolete?
In this video, we examine the growing challenge posed by mass-produced drone swarms and the economics of naval air defense. Using detailed combat simulations in DCS World and Sea Power, we compare how a modern Arleigh Burke Flight III destroyer and the legendary WWII Yamato battleship perform against the same large-scale drone attack.
Scenario 1 features a single Arleigh Burke III armed with SM-2, SM-6, and ESSM surface-to-air missiles defending against 100 Shahed-136 kamikaze drones. Scenario 2 replaces the destroyer with the battleship Yamato, relying on its heavy anti-aircraft guns and massive ammunition reserves to counter the same threat.
We calculate and compare the total cost of missiles and gun ammunition expended, exploring whether the cost-exchange ratio between cheap drones and expensive interceptors could reshape the future of naval warfare. Could heavily armed gun warships offer a more economical solution to drone swarms, or do modern missile destroyers remain the superior choice?
Topics covered:
• Drone warfare
• Shahed-136 attack drones
• Arleigh Burke Flight III destroyers
• SM-2, SM-6, and ESSM missiles
• Yamato battleship
• Naval air defense
• Drone swarm tactics
• Defense economics
• DCS World simulation
• Sea Power simulation
• Modern naval warfare
• Future warship design
DONATE/SUPPORT GRIM REAPERS
PATREON monthly donations: patreon.com/GrimReapers
PAYPAL one-off donations: paypal.me/GrimReapersDonation
MERCH 1 : teespring.com/stores/grim-reapers-merchandise
MERCH 2 : grimreapers2.myspreadshop.co.uk
GRIM REAPERS YOUTUBE CHANNELS
Grim Reapers 1 - DCS & Sea Power: youtube.com/channel/UCZuXjkFY00p1ga3UyCBbR2w
Grim Reapers 2 - WWII naval battles: youtube.com/channel/UCZzvHfFzIpMrvgAbgZDUX9A
Grim Reapers 3 - Full DCS missions youtube.com/channel/UCg7C1fVGdxz3VSz1-zxWcBQ
0:00 Intro
3:54 Aleigh Burke Flight III DDG vs 100 Shahed Drones
11:39 Super Yamato BB vs 100 Shahed Drones
SOCIAL MEDIA
WEBSITE: grimreapers.net
STREAM(Cap): twitch.tv/grimreaperscap
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/GrimReapersGroup
TWITTER: twitter.com/GrimReapers_
DISCORD: discord.gg/cATmE3d
THANK YOU TO: Mission Makers, Admin, Staff, Helpers, Donators & Viewers(without which, this could not happen)
#DroneWarfare #NavalWarfare #Shahed136 #ArleighBurke #YamatoBattleship #MissileDefense #MilitaryAnalysis #DCSWorld #SeaPower #ModernWarfare #BattleshipVsDestroyer #DroneSwarm #WarshipTechnology #MilitarySimulation #DefenseEconomics #FutureOfNavalWarfare
