Iran war burns through expensive US stockpiles, exposes military strain

Donald Trump's Iran war is rapidly draining America's stockpile of high-end, costly munitions, exposing strains in military readiness and raising concerns over the ability to sustain future conflicts.

In Short

• Over 1,100 JASSM-ER and 1,000 Tomahawk missiles used rapidly
• Conflict cost estimated at $28-35 billion, nearly $1 billion daily
• Production lags behind usage, raising long-term strategic concerns

Donald Trump’s military campaign in Iran has begun to expose a critical strain on the United States’ warfighting capacity, with internal Pentagon assessments indicating a rapid depletion of critical high-end munitions. The scale and intensity of the conflict, which began in late February, have forced the US to draw heavily from stockpiles originally earmarked for potential confrontations with major adversaries such as China and Russia, raising fresh concerns about long-term military readiness.

Among the most concerning figures is the use of approximately 1,100 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSM-ER) cruise missiles, which is a long-range, stealth weapon originally designed for a potential conflict with China. This represents a substantial portion of the US inventory, leaving roughly 1,500 remaining, according to officials familiar with classified estimates, the New York Times reported, citing Pentagon documents.

In addition, the military has fired more than 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles, around ten times the number procured annually. Each Tomahawk costs about USD 3.6 million (around Rs 34 crore), underscoring the financial strain of sustained operations. The Pentagon has also used more than 1,200 Patriot interceptor missiles, priced at nearly USD 4 million (Rs 37.6 crore) each, exceeding the roughly 600 units produced in all of 2025. Ground-based systems, including Precision Strike Missiles and ATACMS, have also been deployed in large numbers, further reducing reserves.

The pace of usage far exceeds annual production levels, with officials warning that replenishing these sophisticated and costly systems could take years, potentially leaving critical gaps in America’s global defence posture.

MOUNTING COSTS, OPERATIONAL STRAIN

The financial cost of the conflict has been staggering. Independent estimates from groups including the American Enterprise Institute place the total expenditure between USD 28 billion (Rs 2.6 lakh crore) and USD 35 billion (Rs 3.30 lakh crore), which is nearly USD 1 billion (Rs 9,424 crore) per day. In just the first two days of fighting, US forces reportedly used $5.6 billion worth of munitions.

Despite the scale of spending, the Pentagon has not officially disclosed total munitions usage. It has stated only that more than 13,000 targets were struck during the 38-day conflict, a figure that analysts say understates the volume of weapons used, as many targets required multiple strikes.

The war has also resulted in unexpected equipment losses. During a rescue mission involving Navy SEAL Team 6, the military destroyed two MC-130 cargo aircraft and at least three MH-6 helicopters to prevent sensitive technology from falling into Iranian hands. The losses were estimated at USD 275 million (Rs 2,591 crore).

• JASSM-ER (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile – Extended Range)

— Stealth cruise missile used for deep strikes
— Used: 1,100 missiles

• Tomahawk Cruise Missiles

— Sea-launched long-range precision strike weapon
— Used: Over 1,000 missiles

• Precision Strike Missile (PrSM)

— New-generation long-range ground missile
— Fired via HIMARS systems

• ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System)

— Short-to-medium range ballistic missile
— Used in large numbers (exact figures undisclosed)

• Patriot interceptor missiles (PAC-3)

— Used to shoot down incoming missiles/drones
— Used: Over 1,200

• THAAD interceptors

— Advanced missile defence system
— Units diverted from South Korea to Middle East

• Naval air defence missiles (SM-2, SM-6 etc.)

— Used to defend ships and bases
— Used heavily alongside Patriot & THAAD

• HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System)

— Platform used to launch PrSM and other rockets

• Air-launched bombs & precision-guided munitions

— Thousands used to hit over 13,000 targets

• Attack drones & surveillance drones
• Aircraft destroyed during operations:

— 2 MC-130 cargo aircraft
— 3 MH-6 helicopters
— Destroyed to prevent capture by Iran

GLOBAL READINESS CONCERNS

The rapid depletion of munitions has forced the US to divert weapons and equipment from other regions, weakening its global military posture, the New York Times reported. Supplies have been redirected from both Europe and Asia to support operations under US Central Command.

In Europe, officials warn that reduced stockpiles could undermine Nato’s eastern flank defences against Russia. Training exercises have been curtailed, and shortages in surveillance and attack drones have affected operational readiness.

The impact has been even more pronounced in the Indo-Pacific. The US redeployed the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group from the South China Sea to the Middle East and sent two Marine Expeditionary Units from the Pacific. Advanced missile defence systems, including Patriot and THAAD interceptors stationed in South Korea, have also been moved, raising concerns about preparedness against North Korea.

Admiral Samuel J Paparo Jr, talking to the Times, acknowledged during a Senate hearing that “there are finite limits to the magazine,” hinting at the constraints imposed by dwindling inventories.

PRODUCTION BOTTLENECKS, STRATEGIC RISKS

Replenishing the depleted stockpiles could take years. Senator Jack Reed warned that “at current production rates, reconstituting what we have expended could take years,” highlighting the gap between usage and manufacturing capacity.

The Pentagon had previously secured long-term agreements with defence contractors, including Lockheed Martin, to ramp up production of missile systems and precision-guided munitions. The plan aimed to quadruple output over seven years. However, officials say progress has stalled due to a lack of congressional funding approvals.

This has left the military in a precarious position, continuing to expend munitions rapidly while lacking the financial backing to accelerate production.

DEBATE OVER MILITARY CAPACITY

As the situation sparked debate within Washington, the White House dismissed concerns, saying that the US military remains “fully loaded” and capable of defending the homeland and executing any mission. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has not commented on specific stockpile levels, citing operational security.

However, analysts such as Mark F Cancian have warned that some critical munitions were already in short supply before the war and are now even more limited.

“The United States has many munitions with adequate inventories, but some critical ground-attack and missile-defense munitions were short before the war and are even shorter now,” he told Times.

According to analysts, the conflict has also highlighted structural issues in US defence strategy, particularly an overdependence on costly, high-end weapons systems. Experts argue that the Pentagon must invest in cheaper, rapidly producible alternatives such as drones to sustain long-term operations.

The Iran war has underscored the limits of US military capacity in prolonged high-intensity conflicts. While the United States retains formidable capabilities, the depletion of critical munitions, combined with production bottlenecks and rising costs, poses strategic risks.

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