It’s hideously expensive to wage war, that’s why it’s not for individuals.

You haven’t been paying attention in the last few years. Most effective innovations of modern war (and that’s not what Northrop-Grumman or IAI advertise, that’s what Shia combatants in Syria, Ukrainian military in, well, Ukraine, etc actually use to fight their enemies) are very cheap.

Anyway, it’s not unheard of in history of wars for a completely outclassed economically side to emerge victorious.