June 12, 2026:
The current Iran war began at the end of February and continues into June. America has spent over $12 billion since the war began, most of that went for missiles, drones and other munitions. This conflict was noted for the massive use of missiles and drones by both sides. Patriot and THAAD/Terminal High Altitude Aerial Defense are used to intercept Iranian missiles and drones. During the first two weeks, the Americans used more than 6.000 offensive and air defense missiles. This involved nearly half of the ATACMS and its successor PrSM/Precision Strike Missiles. Some 40 percent of the supply of THAAD missiles were used. The major offensive weapon, the Tomahawk cruise missile, saw a fifth of the American stockpile fired in a missile barrage that cost nearly $2 billion. The air force used some 1,100 of their JASSM air to ground missiles in the Iran war. Each of these missiles costs $750,000 and it will take two years to replace those expended against Iran. Overall America used about half its missile and drone stockpile on these attacks and it will take two or three years to replenish the stockpile.
In response to Israeli and American March air strikes, Iran retaliated against the Arab Persian Gulf countries. The attacks began during the first week of March. The UAE/United Arab Emirates were hit by 1,688 systems, including 1,422 drones and 246 missiles during March 1- 8, which was the largest Iranian attack launched on any one Persian Gulf neighbor. Bahrain and Kuwait also received heavy attacks because of their proximity to Iran and the presence of American military facilities.
Iran extended its drone attacks to port facilities in Oman and commercial shipping using the Strait of Hormuz, the vital passage in and out of the Persian Gulf. This was a deliberate effort to halt oil exports and commercial ships delivering cargoes to the Gulf States. After March 1st, daily drone strikes averaged about 250 a day. Drones used were Shahed-136, Shahed-107, and Shahed-238 models. Only one Gulf Arab state, the United Arab Emirates, retaliated because of the Iranian attacks.
Until President Trump announced a cease-fire, aircraft from Israel and the United States continued to attack Iranian drone launching sites. Most of the Iranian weapons are $50,000 Shahed drones. These drones are downed by warplanes using autocannon, or ground forces firing million dollar Patriot missiles. Not only are the Iranian designed Shaheds cheap, but Iranian ally Russia has built a factory to build their version of Shahed called Geran. Even the Americans built a Shahed clone called Lucas and used it against Iran in the recent Persian Gulf fighting.