The Defense Department’s inspector general reported a significant ammunition shortfall in the United States due to the ongoing conflict in Iran. The mandatory report to Congress highlighted that Operation Epic Fury, ongoing from February 28 to June 30, cost approximately $33.4 billion. A substantial portion of this, about $22.3 billion, was allocated to munitions.
The report indicated that the heavy expenditure on munitions has led to strategic inventory shortages and uncovered issues within the industrial base regarding munitions resupply. There have been notable losses of military assets, including four destroyed F-15s, one damaged F-35, seven damaged KC-135 tanker aircraft, and up to 30 destroyed MQ-9 Reaper drones.
Despite these challenges, President Trump has dismissed concerns about dwindling weapon reserves. Recently, he proclaimed on Truth Social that the U.S. is producing “more exquisite and elite weapons than at any time in our history.” His previous statements emphasized the belief in the U.S.’s “virtually unlimited” ammunition supplies.
At the onset of the conflict, the U.S. targeted over 1,000 sites in Iran, according to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). However, such extensive attacks have not been repeated in the following months.
The report also noted that Iranian strikes caused significant damage to American bases in various Middle Eastern locations, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Jordan. These costs were not included in the report’s financial estimates, as it remains uncertain whether these bases will be rebuilt or who might cover the expenses.
CBS Sunday Morning recently visited Lockheed Martin’s production facility to observe the construction of the Patriot air defense missile, designed to counter ballistic missile threats. Each missile costs around $4 million, and the company is manufacturing approximately 750 units annually.
Mark Cancian from the Center for Strategic and International Studies expressed that while the U.S. has enough weapons for the conflict with Iran, a prolonged war with China poses significant challenges in maintaining munitions supplies.
Despite the Pentagon’s denial of ammunition shortages, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has advocated for increased weapon production. Tim Cahill from Lockheed Martin described the manufacturing atmosphere as “controlled chaos,” urging the defense industry to rapidly overcome production obstacles.
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