Those strikes come with a significant price tag. In some cases, U.S. forces have used Tomahawk missiles, which can cost about $2 million each. But even beyond the costs themselves, analysts warn that the U.S. is quickly depleting its weapons stockpiles, which were already running thin after years of military support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
“The price of the munitions themselves may be pennies to the Pentagon financially, but using so many of them amounts to a significant blow to our actual stockpiles of these weapons,” said Mr. DiMino, the Defense Priorities analyst. “By some estimates, the Navy has already used more than a year’s worth of [Tomahawk missile] production in Yemen. It takes time to build these things. So, the costs are not just sticker price. It can set back our production by years in some cases.”
You can’t print a supply chain out of thin air. These things take time, if you start now you may be ready in 10 years.