According to estimates from US officials, the initial 24-hour total cost of the military campaign against Iran (Operation Epic Fury) amounted to $779 million – $800 million worth of military activities (combat & logistical support) alone.
This figure is one of the first published estimates since the start of hostilities and gives an idea of the significant financial commitment required for modern warfare at such a high level of intensity before months of continued hostilities. Analysts further estimate that the total amount is limited to those operating costs directly attributable to immediate airstrike operations.
Specifically, the majority of the immediate cost incurred within the first 24 hours was associated with “high-cost” weapon systems (i.e., bombers & fighter jets) and aerial firepower:
- Bombers & Strikers: The majority of the sorties completed in the first 24 hours were flown using B-2 stealth bombers and various F-22/F-35 fighter aircraft; there are millions in operating costs associated with each of these aircraft, as a result of the fuel used to fly them and the cost of the personnel who support them. A report obtained from the Air Force estimates that each B-2/SF-2 that participated in the first day of the air campaign cost $1 million in operational costs.
- Tomahawk Missiles & Cruise Missile Strikes: Hundreds of Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched from ships in support of the air campaign on the first day of operations. These types of munitions make up a large portion of the overall bill just from the high unit costs and the extent of use.
The use and deployment of aircraft carriers, like the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford, as well as escort destroyers, represent a significant portion of the daily cost of operating an aircraft carrier strike group (CSG) to deploy naval strike missions; CSGs cost millions of dollars per day to operate their aircraft.
According to experts, the numbers stated above do not include the cost of performing the mission prior to actually executing it; there are costs involved when moving aircraft and naval assets into a region and these costs could add an additional several hundred million dollars to the overall costs.
The overall cost of the campaign may increase significantly if fighting continues after the first 24 hours of operations, according to experts. One model estimated that the total cost of Operation Epic Fury (including the replacement of munitions, long-term logistical support and economic disruptions) could reach up to $210 billion.
That number will include not only the cost of direct military expenditures, but also the cost of indirect economic consequences caused by unstable markets, fluctuations in energy prices and the missed opportunity of government spending diverted due to the war.
Also read: US sinks Iranian warship: Another incident amidst the ongoing battle
Early Reactions and Fiscal Concerns
Reactions to government expenditure involved in these operations have come from budget hawks and defense experts alike. Some analysts say that expenditures of hundreds of millions just for the first day of the campaign illustrate the unsustainable expenses of continuing the war in the Middle East, especially when considering the federal government’s tight budget.
Those supporting the operation state that military action is necessary to degrade the military capability of Iran and prevent future threats from Iran, regardless of the amount spent.
The current estimate is that the military campaign is going to last at least four weeks or longer, so Pentagon officials believe that the expenditures in the first 24 hours of the campaign may only be a small portion of what will be spent in the totality of warfare.
Read more: Shadows over the Strait: The US-Israel Joint Offensive and the Shifting
First Day Estimate — $779 million – $800 million
Summary: The United States has expended about $780 million for five strikes/sorties/force deployment during the first 24 hours of Operation Epic Fury, which represents only a fraction of the speed at which national resources are utilized in modern warfare.
If this pace continues, costs could well exceed tens of billions or hundreds of billions of dollars, affecting U.S. fiscal policy and public opinion for the foreseeable future.
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