The Defense Department inspector general released a mandatory report to Congress on Monday. The document confirmed that the United States faced a shortfall in ammunition as a direct result of its war against Iran.
The report covered the period from February 28 to June 30. During that time Operation Epic Fury cost an estimated $33.4 billion. Of that total, $22.3 billion went to expended munitions alone.
The report stated that the munitions expenditure on Operation Epic Fury resulted in strategic inventory shortfalls. It also revealed industrial base bottlenecks for munitions resupply.
In addition the inspector general listed specific losses to American forces. Four F-15 fighters were destroyed. One F-35 fighter was damaged. Seven KC-135 tanker aircraft were damaged. Up to 30 MQ-9 Reaper drones were destroyed.
Meanwhile Iranian strikes damaged and destroyed hundreds of buildings and structures at United States bases across Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Jordan. The report did not include repair costs for those facilities because officials had not yet determined the full scope or funding responsibility.
The Pentagon responded by working to streamline procurement processes and production lead times. Officials also moved to stockpile critical materials, components and selected munitions. However the Defense Department acknowledged that expanding production capacity required significant lead time.
Key bottlenecks included production of solid-fuel rocket motors, shortages of high-quality explosives and propellants, and a shortage of skilled workers in the defense industry.
President Donald Trump had repeatedly stated that the United States possessed virtually unlimited ammunition. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had previously denied reports of shortages.
Mark Cancian, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, addressed the implications. “For a war against Iran, the answer is yes,” he said regarding sufficient weapons. “The problem is a war against China. We might be able to provide enough munitions for a month, but getting on to month two or month three or four, that’s a great challenge.”
The report marked the first official public confirmation from a United States government agency that the conflict created strategic munitions shortfalls.
