In a new analysis of the unprecedented volume of spending and ammunition consumption by the US military in the war with Iran, the Economist magazine wrote that in the first four days of Operation “Epic Fury”, the US used more than 5,000 different types of ammunition, and in the first 16 days, about 11,000.
The publication added that in the first week of the war, about 140 Patriot interceptor missiles and more than 150 THAAD interceptors were fired.
Replacing these weapons will take years. The cost of reproducing spent ammunition in just the first four days is estimated to be between $20 billion and $26 billion. But the main problem is the lack of production capacity, not just the financial cost.
The Economist emphasized that the United States used more than 300 Tomahawk missiles in the early days of the war, while the annual production capacity of this missile is only 57; this volume of consumption greatly reduces the US military’s readiness for a possible conflict in Asia, such as Taiwan.
The Economist’s conclusion: The long-term consequences of Operation Epic Fury could last for years, weakening America’s deterrence and combat capability for a long time.
