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Photo: U.S. Navy photo/U.S. Central Command

Photo: U.S. Navy photo/U.S. Central Command

Iran War Cost Estimate Update: $11.3 Billion at Day 6, $16.5 Billion at Day 12

This update uses the DOD-reported $11.3 billion war cost to calculate the impact on munition inventories. It also estimates the cost of combat losses and damage to bases ($1.7 billion) and the total cost over 12 days of Epic Fury ($16.5 billion).

Commentary by Mark F. Cancian and Chris H. Park — March 13, 2026

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Seth G. Jones

Seth G. Jones

President, Defense and Security Department; Harold Brown Chair
Emily Harding

Emily Harding

Vice President, Defense and Security Department; Director, Intelligence, National Security, and Technology Program
Daniel Byman

Daniel Byman

Director, Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program
Tom Karako

Tom Karako

Director, Missile Defense Project and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department
Jerry McGinn

Jerry McGinn

Director, Center for the Industrial Base and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department
Kari Bingen

Kari A. Bingen

Director, Aerospace Security Project and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department
Alek Jovovic

Alek Jovovic

Deputy Director, Center for the Industrial Base and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department
Clayton Swope

Clayton Swope

Deputy Director, Aerospace Security Project and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department
Lauryn Williams

Lauryn Williams

Deputy Director and Senior Fellow, Strategic Technologies Program
Bonny Lin

Bonny Lin

Director, China Power Project and Senior Adviser
Max Bergmann

Max Bergmann

Director, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and Stuart Center
Matt Pearl

Matt Pearl

Director, Strategic Technologies Program
Benjamin Jensen

Benjamin Jensen

Director, Futures Lab and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department
Oge Onubogu

Oge Onubogu

Director and Senior Fellow, Africa Program

Nikita Shah

Senior Fellow, Intelligence, National Security, and Technology Program
Yasir Atalan

Yasir Atalan

Deputy Director and Data Fellow, Futures Lab, Defense and Security Department
Brian Hart

Brian Hart

Deputy Director and Fellow, China Power Project
Andy Lim

Andy Lim

Deputy Director and Fellow, Korea Chair
Joseph Rodgers

Joseph Rodgers

Deputy Director and Fellow, Project on Nuclear Issues
Joel Coito

Joel Coito

Military Fellow, Defense and Security Department

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How to Lose a Navy in 10 Days

The naval strikes against Iran reveal how quickly modern fleets can be crippled. Today’s maritime campaigns aim not just to sink ships, but to blind sensors, disrupt command networks, and destroy ports—often within the opening days of war.

Commentary by Benjamin Jensen — March 12, 2026

Is the U.S. Running Out of Munitions? | All About the Base

All About the Base host and Center for the Industrial Base Director Jerry McGinn speaks with Tom Karako, Director of the Missile Defense Project, on the state of U.S. munitions stockpiles in light of the strikes against Iran and the need for magazine "breadth" and not simply depth.

Event — March 10, 2026

What Does the New Cyber Strategy Really Mean?

The new U.S. cyber strategy marks a shift to a more proactive cyber policy. It is a commendable declaration of goals but lacks a conversation about matching resources to these goals. This analysis explores the strategy’s strengths, gaps, and the path forward.

Critical Questions by Emily Harding — March 9, 2026

$3.7 Billion: Estimated Cost of Epic Fury’s First 100 Hours

Operation Epic Fury costs nearly $900 million per day, driven by the large expenditure of munitions. Because most of this is not in the budget, the Pentagon will soon need to ask for more money.

Commentary by Mark F. Cancian and Chris H. Park — March 5, 2026

Russian Roulette

Eric Ciaramella on How Europe Can Arm Ukraine

Eric Ciaramella of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace returned to the show to discuss his recent article with Sophia Besch on the ways that European states can support Ukraine militarily without the involvement of the U.S. Max and Maria asked him about his piece, the funding questions behind its ideas, and Eric's overall assessment on peace negotiations with Russia.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, and Eric Ciaramella — March 5, 2026

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