The Flame Column was seen as a cheaper alternative in an anti-infantry capacity than the Isis-class Obelisk of Light from the era of the Third Tiberium War. At the time, the Obelisk of Light's only weakness was its inability to attack air units. Furthermore, it costed more to invest and construct than the flame column. When GDI began investing in an aerial force to combat future Scrin invasions, Nod had considered abandoning their most fearsome weapon if nothing was developed to solve the Obelisk's problem.