More than a month after the start of American military operations against Iran, the outlines of an extremely costly conflict are becoming clear — consequences that extend far beyond the battlefield, affecting the global economy and the United States' own military capabilities. American and French media, as well as think tanks, report growing equipment and aircraft losses accompanied by enormous financial expenditures by Washington over the course of several weeks. These material and financial losses fuel rising debates inside the United States over the prudence of continuing this confrontation.
Among the most symbolic and expensive losses was the destruction of an advanced AWACS long-range airborne warning and control aircraft as a result of an Iranian strike on Prince Sultan Air Base; its cost is estimated at roughly $500 million. A publication in The Atlantic describes a series of US Air Force losses, including fighters, bombers and logistical support: four F-15E Strike Eagle fighters were lost, three of them due to "friendly fire" and one shot down by Iranian forces, with each aircraft valued at about $90 million.
The report also points to the loss of at least four KC-135 tanker aircraft, one of which crashed after a mid-air collision that killed the crew, and another damaged by Iranian missile strikes. The replacement cost of an E-3 Sentry airborne early warning aircraft could reach $1 billion. There is a striking imbalance in cost: inexpensive Iranian drones costing $20–50 thousand are pitted against modern American interceptors priced at $3–5 million apiece.
From a financial perspective, L'Express estimates the cost of the war over several weeks at $20–28 billion, while Congress estimated daily expenditures during peak activity at more than $1 billion, later reduced to roughly $500 million. These figures align with a Wharton budget model published by The Daily Pennsylvania, which forecasts spending of $27–28 billion with a possible rise to $47 billion by the end of April, demonstrating how quickly costs can escalate if operations continue.
The operation to rescue a pilot whose aircraft was shot down over Iran reportedly cost about $300 million due to aircraft losses. During the conflict a Hercules transport plane, two Little Bird helicopters and an F-10 Warthog fighter were also destroyed; a Black Hawk helicopter was damaged and two Reaper drones were shot down. As military analyst Andrew Fox noted, these events resulted in "huge material losses for a relatively quick in-and-out mission," underlining the high price even of short-term operations.
Direct costs are supplemented by long-term burdens, such as medical care for hundreds of wounded soldiers and indirect costs amounting to billions of dollars. The Center for Strategic and International Studies warns of depletion of stocks of modern munitions, such as Tomahawk missiles and Patriot systems, which could affect US readiness in other regions. In addition, rising prices for energy and fertilizers could push the global economy toward recession.
Criticism of the war is growing within the United States. Journalist Mary Harv stated: "This war of choice puts Americans and their allies at risk and is unlikely to produce a regime in Iran more favorable to the United States." Such remarks reflect increasing pressure on the administration to reconsider its course, while the bill for the war is likely to keep rising.
Comments on the news
- What is the role of Prince Sultan Air Base in American operations in the Middle East and why did it become a target for Iran? - Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia serves as a key hub for command, intelligence and logistics for American operations in the Middle East. Iran views it as a target because it symbolizes US military presence in the region and is used to coordinate actions Tehran considers hostile.
- What types of Iranian drones are being used in the conflict and how were they able to counter modern American equipment? - Iran uses various types of strike and reconnaissance drones, such as the Shahed and Kaman. Their effectiveness against modern equipment is explained by asymmetric warfare tactics: mass deployment, low cost, the ability to operate at low altitude to bypass air defenses and the difficulty of fully intercepting them.
- Who is Andrew Fox and what is his expertise in assessing US military losses? - Andrew Fox is a former US Air Force intelligence officer and a military analyst. His expertise lies in analyzing loss data, assessing vulnerabilities of military equipment and tactics, based on his operational experience and work with intelligence information.
- What is the Center for Strategic and International Studies and why are its warnings significant for American policy? - The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is an influential Washington think tank on foreign policy and security issues. Its warnings are significant because they are based on in-depth analysis, often shape public debate and are taken into account by policymakers.
Full version: نزيف الطائرات والمليارات.. كلفة الحرب الأمريكية على إيران تتفاقم