The estimated cost of the US military campaign against Iran has risen to at least $47 billion, according to figures compiled by US Central Command on 16 October 2026 and provided by the Pentagon to Congress last week. Reuters reported the revised estimate on Tuesday, 27 October.
The latest figure is more than 25 per cent higher than the US Defence Department’s estimate issued in July. It covers the campaign launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on 28 February, according to the account published by Reuters.
Munition replacement forms the largest share
More than $29 billion of the revised estimate is earmarked for replacing weapons used during the campaign. The category includes air-defence interceptors and bombs, reflecting the scale of expenditure on both offensive operations and the protection of US forces and facilities.
A further more than $6 billion would be required to replace military equipment and what the Pentagon describes as “platform losses”. The latter category includes aircraft, with many drones reported to have been lost during the war. The estimate does not include the cost of damage to US military bases in the Middle East.
| Category | Estimated amount |
|---|---|
| Total campaign cost | At least $47 billion |
| Replacement munitions | More than $29 billion |
| Equipment and platform losses | More than $6 billion |
Service-level spending
The US Air Force has spent $7.6 billion since the joint attacks began, while the Army has spent $2.1 billion and the Navy $1.5 billion, Reuters reported, citing the Pentagon estimate. The figures cover service expenditure identified in the revised assessment and do not represent the full replacement requirement listed for munitions and equipment.
- US Air Force: $7.6 billion spent since 28 February
- US Army: $2.1 billion spent since 28 February
- US Navy: $1.5 billion spent since 28 February
The revised assessment places the financial burden of the campaign alongside the continuing requirement to replenish stocks of air-defence interceptors, bombs and other military equipment. For defence observers in India, the figures offer a measure of the material costs associated with a sustained high-intensity air campaign involving aircraft, drones, precision weapons and layered air defence. The Pentagon’s estimate, however, excludes damage to US bases in the Middle East, meaning that the stated total does not cover every cost identified in the account.
