A new report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has pulled back the curtain on the staggering cost and munitions burn rate of Operation Epic Fury. The Pentagon confirms that the first six days of the campaign against Iran cost a total of $11.3 billion, with over $5.6 billion spent purely on high-end ammunition.
The data reveals a strategic shift toward massive, high-precision saturation to dismantle Iranian air defenses. Notably, the JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile) has emerged as the weapon of choice, with 786 units launched—more than double the usage of the traditional Tomahawk (TLAM). This reliance on JASSM underscores the role of strategic bombers, which can carry up to 20 missiles each to strike multiple hardened targets in a single sortie.
Expended Munitions: First 6 Days
- JASSM: 786 units (Primary strike tool)
- APKWS: 879 units (Precision rocket systems)
- HARM/AARGM: 414 units (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses)
- Tomahawk (TLAM): 319 units
- THAAD Interceptors: 158 units (Defensive expenditure)
While the US maintains a deep stockpile of over 3,000 JASSMs, the burn rate for THAAD and ATACMS has raised eyebrows among logistics experts. THAAD supplies are not expected to see significant replenishment until 2027, creating a potential “interceptor gap” if the conflict remains at high intensity. To mitigate these costs, the Pentagon plans to transition to cheaper alternatives like JDAMs and Hellfire missiles once air dominance is fully secured.
