Pentagon report highlights weapons production bottlenecks exposed by the Iran conflict. (Image: Google)
Washington DC: The United States military is facing significant ammunition inventory pressures after months of combat operations against Iran exposed weaknesses in weapons production and resupply capacity, according to a Pentagon watchdog report submitted to Congress. The report said the scale of munitions used during Operation Epic Fury has created strategic inventory shortfalls and highlighted bottlenecks across the US defence industrial base.
According to the mandatory report from the US Department of Defense inspector general, Operation Epic Fury incurred an estimated $33.4 billion in costs between February 28 and June 30, 2026. Munitions accounted for approximately $22.3 billion of that expenditure, underlining the enormous scale of weapons consumption during the campaign. The watchdog warned that the pace of expenditure has placed pressure on America's ability to replenish critical weapons stocks.
The report linked the depletion of ammunition reserves to wider challenges within the US defence manufacturing system. The findings indicate that replacing weapons used during the Iran campaign could take time, particularly for advanced munitions that require specialised manufacturing capacity and complex supply chains. The issue goes beyond battlefield consumption, as sustained demand could affect the Pentagon's ability to maintain adequate reserves for future contingencies.
The watchdog also documented losses and damage to American military assets during the campaign. Four F-15 fighter aircraft were reported destroyed, while one F-35 stealth fighter was damaged. Seven KC-135 refuelling tankers also sustained damage, while as many as 30 MQ-9 Reaper drones were reportedly shot down. The losses added another layer of pressure to an already costly military operation.
Concerns over ammunition availability have also focused on US air-defence capabilities. Reports have indicated that shortages of long-range precision-guided weapons and air-defence interceptors have affected military planning. US forces are reported to have used nearly 80% of their THAAD missile interceptor inventory. Such depletion could create difficult decisions for US military planners if Washington faces another major air-defence requirement before stocks are fully replenished.
The scale of the initial offensive further illustrates the intensity of the campaign. During the first 24 hours, US Central Command carried out strikes against more than 1,000 targets. The military did not repeat that level of bombardment during the following months, according to the report. The reduced strike tempo highlights the challenge of sustaining extremely high-intensity operations over an extended period.
US President Donald Trump has dismissed concerns surrounding depleted weapons inventories. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said American factories were producing more advanced weapons than at any previous point in US history. The comments come as the Pentagon faces the task of rebuilding stocks consumed during the Iran operation while maintaining readiness for other potential conflicts.
The watchdog report also recorded extensive damage to American military facilities across the region. Iranian attacks reportedly damaged or destroyed hundreds of facilities at US installations in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Jordan. However, the costs of reconstructing those facilities were not included in the headline operational expenditure because officials were still assessing which sites would be rebuilt and how the reconstruction would be financed.
The Pentagon's ammunition challenge highlights a broader question for the US military: whether its defence industrial base can replenish sophisticated weapons quickly enough after a prolonged, high-intensity conflict. The findings could fuel renewed debate over weapons production capacity, strategic stockpiles and the ability of the United States to sustain simultaneous military commitments.
