The United States expended an estimated $28 billion to $35 billion worth of weapons during the recent Iran conflict, significantly straining its advanced munitions stockpiles and raising concerns about military readiness, according to a report by The New York Times.

The report said the large-scale use of high-end missiles and air defence systems over a short period has not only reduced reserves but also triggered questions about Washington’s preparedness for potential conflicts elsewhere, particularly with major rivals such as China and Russia.

Since the onset of hostilities, US forces have reportedly fired around 1,100 long-range stealth cruise missiles — many originally reserved for a possible conflict with China — along with more than 1,000 Tomahawk missiles, nearly ten times the country’s annual procurement.

The report further noted that approximately 1,100 JASSM-ER missiles, each costing about $1.1 million, were used, leaving an estimated 1,500 in US inventories.

Additionally, over 1,200 Patriot air defence missiles — each priced at more than $4 million — were expended, alongside more than 1,000 advanced ground-attack missiles.

The scale of deployment forced the US to shift weapons from commands in Asia and Europe to the Middle East, potentially affecting readiness in those regions. Analysts warned this could weaken Washington’s rapid response capability against adversaries.

US officials and lawmakers cited in the report said the conflict has exposed an overreliance on expensive, limited-production weapons, increasing pressure on the defence industry to ramp up output of more cost-effective systems, including drones.

During the 38-day conflict, more than 13,000 targets were struck, often multiple times, pushing total munitions usage even higher.

The Pentagon has not officially disclosed the total cost of the conflict, but officials acknowledged that the situation has placed unprecedented pressure on military resources.

Meanwhile, US Central Command confirmed that three aircraft carrier strike groups — including the USS Abraham Lincoln, USS Gerald R. Ford, and USS George H.W. Bush — are currently deployed in the region, marking a rare concentration of naval power amid ongoing tensions.