Iran War Cost Tracker — Live Real-Time Estimate

Source: https://iran-war-live.com/

$5,286,424,603
Range: $4.24B – $6.75B
Operational: $3.39B · Discrete: $1.90B










Daily Rate Breakdown

Personnel — $40M/dayNaval forces — $22M/dayAircraft operations — $48M/dayFuel & logistics — $15M/dayNon-tracked ordnance — $35M/dayC4ISR / cyber / space — $10M/dayOverhead & unmodeled costs — $50M/day
Total: $220M/day (mid estimate)




Deployed Forces

Aircraft Carrier Strike GroupNimitz / Ford-class — USS Abraham Lincoln (CSG-3, Arabian Sea) + USS Gerald R. Ford (CSG-12, Eastern Med)Guided-Missile Destroyer (DDG)Arleigh Burke-classFast Attack Submarine (SSN)Virginia / Los Angeles-classLittoral Combat Ship (LCS)Freedom / Independence-class$192,000–$438,356/dayQty: 3
B-1B LancerStrategic bomberF-22 RaptorAir superiorityC-5M Super GalaxyStrategic airliftF-35A Lightning IIMultirole stealthF-15E Strike EagleStrike / air-to-groundKC-46 PegasusAerial refuelingC-17 Globemaster IIITactical/strategic airliftF-16 Fighting FalconMultirole fighterA-10 Thunderbolt IIClose air supportKC-135 StratotankerAerial refuelingP-8A PoseidonMaritime patrol / ASWMQ-9 ReaperISR / strike UAV




Operation Timeline
2026-02-28 04:00 UTCOperation Epic Fury beginsFirst wave: Tomahawk + JASSM-ER strikes on air defenses, C2 nodes. 1,000+ targets struck Day 1.2026-02-28 04:30 UTCCyber/Space operations - 'first movers'Coordinated cyber and space operations conducted as opening phase, degrading Iranian C3 capabilities2026-02-28 06:30 UTC3 U.S. F-15EX aircraft lost to friendly fire from Kuwait$103,000,000 per airframe (CSIS); shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses in apparent misidentification. 3-year replacement timeline.+$309M2026-02-28 08:00 UTCFirst Tomahawk salvo — est. 160+ missiles160+ Tomahawk Block V at ~$3.6M each (CSIS replacement cost). Multiple waves of cruise missiles in opening phase.+$576M2026-02-28 12:00 UTCJASSM-ER strikes on hardened targetsEst. 60 JASSM-ER at ~$1.5M each+$90M2026-03-01 02:00 UTCSecond wave strikes — DEAD/SEAD operationsSuppression of enemy air defenses, follow-on cruise missile and precision strikes. Tomahawk costs captured in opening salvo total (160+ per CSIS).2026-03-01 14:00 UTCGBU-57 MOP strikes on Fordow enrichment facilityEst. 8 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators at ~$3.5M each, delivered by B-2 Spirit ($150K/flight hr × 30 hrs per sortie)+$28M2026-03-01 18:00 UTCNaval strikes on Iranian forces — 9 vessels hitAnti-ship missile strikes on Iranian naval forces. Est. ~30–50 Harpoon ($1.5M ea) and Naval Strike Missiles ($2.2M ea) expended to neutralize 9 Iranian vessels. Separate from Tomahawk strikes already counted.+$75M2026-03-02 20:00 UTCLUCAS drone first combat deploymentLUCAS autonomous combat drones used in strikes against Iran, first operational combat appearance. Per-unit costs classified; not yet estimable from open sources.2026-03-03 03:20 UTCB-1 Lancer bombers deployed to theater3 B-1B Lancers transit from CONUS. Flight costs (~$2.3M/sortie for 37-hr round-trips at $63K/hr) captured in daily aircraft ops rate.2026-03-03 04:56 UTCUS Embassy Saudi Arabia hit by Iranian dronesIranian drone strike on US Embassy in Saudi Arabia — first successful Iranian retaliation. Reconstruction/repair costs TBD; not included in military operations total.2026-03-03 20:00 UTCB-1B Lancers conduct deep strikes in Iran3 B-1B Lancers strike deep targets. Ordnance: est. 72 GBU-31 JDAMs (24/aircraft × $25K = $1.8M) + flight premium above daily rate (~$7M for 3 CONUS round-trips). Bulk of JDAM costs captured in daily non-tracked ordnance rate.+$7M2026-03-04 00:00 UTCIran launches 2,500+ missiles and drones — US interceptor costsIran fires 500+ ballistic missiles and 2,000+ drones (CSIS). Coalition intercepted 500 cruise/ballistic missiles and 1,300 drones through Mar 3. CSIS estimates interceptor costs at $1.2B–$3.7B (midpoint $1.7B). THAAD, SM-3, SM-6, PAC-3, ESSM all actively firing. Gulf states also fired from their own batteries.2026-03-04 00:00 UTCUS bombers hit 200+ targets in 72 hoursIntensive bombing campaign across Iran targeting military facilities and arsenals [Verified: 200+ targets over 72 hours suggests mix of precision munitions - estimated 300 JDAMs ($7.5M) + 30 JASSMs ($7.5M)]+$15M2026-03-04 09:00 UTCUS Navy destroys 17 Iranian warshipsAdditional naval strikes destroying 17 more Iranian vessels (beyond the 9 previously reported), bringing total Iranian naval losses to 26 ships+$31M2026-03-04 12:00 UTCUS submarine sinks IRIS Dena with torpedo — first since WWIIUS fast attack submarine fires a single Mark 48 heavyweight torpedo at the IRIS Dena (Moudge-class frigate) 40 nautical miles south of Galle, Sri Lanka. 180 crew aboard; 80+ killed, 100+ missing, 32 rescued. First US submarine torpedo sinking of an enemy warship since 1945. Dena was returning from 2026 International Fleet Review in India.+$400,0002026-03-05 12:00 UTCCENTCOM releases 100-hour operational summaryUS Central Command releases operational data: 2,000 precision strikes conducted, 20 Iranian ships sunk total in first 100 hours. Space and cyber forces led early phase enabling strikes on 1,000+ Iranian targets.2026-03-05 18:00 UTCIranian drone encounter forces US carrier withdrawalIran claims US aircraft carrier withdrew from Strait of Hormuz area after drone encounter2026-03-06 12:00 UTCPrSM missile first combat use in IranUS CENTCOM confirms first operational deployment of Precision Strike Missiles in Operation Epic Fury2026-03-06 14:00 UTCFourth school struck - Tehran elementary schoolShahid Hamedani School in Tehran's Niloufar Square hit in US-Israeli strikes2026-03-08 06:00 UTCOil infrastructure strikes — Tehran & Alborz facilitiesUS-Israeli strikes hit 4 oil storage facilities and 1 production center in Tehran/Alborz - first direct oil infrastructure targeting. Likely JASSM-ER and possibly Tomahawk strikes+$12M2026-03-08 08:00 UTCIranian drone strikes on Bahrain desalination plantIranian drone attack damages water desalination plant in Bahrain, 3 wounded2026-03-10 06:00 UTCB-52 strategic bombers deployed to BritainB-52 Stratofortress bombers arrive at RAF Fairford, Britain as Operation Epic Fury escalates to next phase - strategic bomber deployment phase2026-03-10 08:00 UTCUS strikes PMF positions in Iraq - 4 killedAir strikes kill 4 Iran-backed Kataib Imam Ali fighters in Dibis district, Kirkuk province, Iraq. 12 wounded. Part of expanding regional operations. [Verified: Corrected from $15M — 4 Hellfire missiles ($70k each) plus minimal operational costs should be ~$280k, not $15M]+$280,0002026-03-10 10:00 UTCIranian submarine sunk near Sri LankaIranian submarine sunk near Sri Lanka following naval exercise, expanding theater of naval operations to Indian Ocean+$4M2026-03-11 16:49 UTCPentagon tells Congress: first 6 days cost >$11.3 billionPentagon officials briefed senators in closed-door session that first six days of war cost exceeded $11.3B. Figure excludes buildup costs and full munitions replacement. Sen. Coons indicated it's likely an undercount.2026-03-13 12:00 UTCIranian attacks damage 5 US KC-46 tankersFive US Air Force KC-46 refueling aircraft damaged on ground at Saudi airbase in Iranian attack+$750M2026-03-14 07:20 UTCUS Embassy Baghdad hit by missileIranian-aligned group missile strikes US Embassy Baghdad helipad, damages air defense systemsTotal Discrete Costs: $1.9B




Munitions Expended
F-15EX lost (airframe)$103M ea.x3$309MHarpoon / NSM (anti-ship)$2M ea.x23$41MMark 48 ADCAP torpedo$4M ea.x1$4MPrSM (Precision Strike Missile)$5M ea.x5$25M
Total (unit cost)$1.15BReplacement cost (surge)$1.17B




Live Market Data
Brent Crude$98.91/bbl▼ 1.55 (-1.54%)WTI Crude$98.71/bbl▲ 2.98 (+3.11%)Natural Gas$3.13/MMBtu▼ 0.10 (-3.15%)Gold$5,061.70▼ 54.10 (-1.06%)S&P 5006,632.19▼ 143.61 (-2.12%)Dow Jones46,558.47▼ 858.80 (-1.81%)Nasdaq22,105.36▼ 610.77 (-2.69%)VIX (Fear Index)27.19▼ 0.10 (-0.37%)US Dollar Index100.50▲ 0.76 (+0.76%)10Y Treasury Yield4.29%▲ 0.01 (+0.28%)Strait of HormuzSUSPENDED~20% of global oil transit · Est. gas price impact: +70¢/gal
 Updated 10:46:35




Defense Contractors
Stock performance since strikes began
Lockheed Martin$646.00▼ 3.47 (-0.53%)JASSM-ER, F-35, F-16, PAC-3RTX (Raytheon)$204.52▼ 2.74 (-1.32%)Tomahawk, SM-6, Patriot, AMRAAMNorthrop Grumman$733.71▲ 0.53 (+0.07%)B-2 Spirit, Global Hawk, AARGMGeneral Dynamics$351.52▼ 2.33 (-0.66%)Arleigh Burke DDGs, munitionsBoeing$209.89▼ 4.21 (-1.97%)F-15E, KC-46, P-8A, JDAM




Broader Costs
Personnel deployment (~50,000 troops)$40,000,000/dayFully burdened cost $500–$1,200/day per service member across CENTCOM AOR: Kuwait 13,500, Qatar 10,000, Bahrain 8,300, Jordan 4,000, 2 CSGs 13,400, plus surge forcesNaval + aircraft operations~$70,000,000/dayCombined: 2 CSGs ($13,000,000–$17,400,000), 14 DDGs ($3,100,000), 3 LCS ($576,000–$1,315,000), 13 aircraft types ($30,000,000–$70,000,000). Fleet composition per CSIS. Full O&S basis.Naval forces (2 CSGs, 14 DDGs, 3 LCS)$17,000,000–$22,000,000/dayAircraft ops (13 types deployed)$30,000,000–$70,000,000/day3 F-15EX aircraft lost (friendly fire from Kuwait)$309,000,000$103,000,000 per airframe per CSIS — Feb 28, 2026; Kuwaiti air defense misidentification. 3-year replacement timeline.First 24 hours total expenditure$779,000,000Anadolou Agency / Al Jazeera estimate of first 24 hours of Operation Epic Fury. Note: this likely captures only discrete/observable costs (munitions, assets). Our model adds ~$380M/day in operational burn (personnel, fuel, naval ops, overhead) on top.Interceptor costs — CSIS estimates $1.2B–$3.7B for first 100 hrs$1.7B (CSIS midpoint)CSIS estimates interceptor costs at $1.2B–$3.7B for first 100 hours (midpoint $1.7B). Coalition intercepted 500 cruise/ballistic missiles and 1,300 drones through Mar 3. Iran launched 500+ BMs and 2,000+ drones per CSIS. Kavanagh/Defense Priorities separately estimates >$10B in first 48 hours. Stockpile as of Dec 2025: 534 THAAD ($12.7M ea), 414 SM-3. At current rates, full stockpile depletion in 4–5 weeks.Munitions replenishment premium$50,000,000–$100,000,000+Gap between unit cost paid and replacement production cost. Tomahawk production was ~100/yr; RTX scaling to 1,000+/yr takes years. JASSM-ER backlog 18–24 months. Interceptor replacement will dwarf offensive munitions: THAAD production ramping from 96/yr to 400/yr, PAC-3 from ~600/yr to ~2,000/yr — but ramp takes years and current conflict consumption far outpaces supply.Operation timeline extension4-5 weeks estimated durationTrump indicates operations likely to last 4-5 weeks, prepared to go longer. At current ~$220,000,000/day rate, this suggests $6,200,000,000–$7,700,000,000 total cost projection.Pre-strike military buildup (Jan–Feb '26)$630,000,000Pentagon cost of repositioning aircraft, deploying naval vessels, and mobilizing regional assets before operations began. Per Al Jazeera / Fortune.Pre-strike U.S. deployment (Jan–Feb '26)$25,000,000–$30,000,000/dayCarrier groups, 300+ aircraft, anti-missile systems. Largest Middle East force since 2003 Iraq invasion.U.S. spending on post-Oct 7 conflicts$31,400,000,000 – $33,800,000,000Brown Univ. Costs of War, through Oct 2025Military aid to Israel$22,000,000,000Yemen/regional operations$9,700,000,000 – $12,100,000,000Op. Midnight Hammer (June '25 nuclear strikes)$196,000,000GBU-57 bunker busters on Fordow/Natanz/IsfahanIsrael — Op. Rising Lion (June '25)$6,500,000,00012-day war, ~20B shekelsIsrael 2026 defense budget$44,700,000,000144,000,000,000 shekels — highest ever; $2,200,000,000 earmarked for IranIPS/National Priorities Project — major equipment O&S$59,390,000/dayPartial estimate: naval ($30,679,000/day) + aircraft ($23,314,000/day) operation & support costs, plus 10% combat operations premium. Uses CBO O&S rates. Excludes personnel, fuel, munitions, C4ISR, and overhead — IPS states including these 'would raise the total considerably.' Our full model ($220,000,000/day) captures those additional categories.Penn Wharton Budget Model — direct budgetary cost$40,000,000,000–$95,000,000,000PWBM (Kent Smetters) full-conflict direct budgetary estimate; midpoint ~$65B. Includes munitions replacement, equipment reconstitution, surge production costs, and supplemental appropriations — NOT comparable to our real-time operational model. Assumes <2 months; costs escalate sharply beyond that.Penn Wharton Budget Model — total economic impactUp to $210,000,000,000PWBM maximum estimate including broader economic costs: trade disruption, energy market volatility, financial market instability, and long-term fiscal obligations. Per Fortune / Yahoo Finance, Mar 2 2026.Center for American Progress — total war cost>$5,000,000,000CAP estimate through Day 4 (Mar 3). Combines Brown Univ. Costs of War lifecycle methodology (>$4B first-day costs including veterans' obligations and interest) + $630M pre-strike repositioning (McCusker/AEI). Uses broader cost basis than our operational model — Brown's methodology applies ~3–4× multiplier on direct military costs to capture full taxpayer burden. Our operational total (~$1.8B at Day 4, interceptor costs excluded pending confirmed figures) will increase significantly once US interceptor expenditure is disclosed.




Historical Comparisons

  Post-9/11 wars (total through 2023)$8+ trillion
  Iraq War (2003–2011)$815 billion
  Afghanistan War (2001–2021)$2.3 trillion
  First Gulf War (1990–91)$61 billion
  Libya (2011)$1.1 billion
  U.S. annual education spending$860 billion





Human Cost
U.S. Service MembersKilled29Wounded158Missing0Iranian one-way attack drone struck U.S. tactical operations center at Shuaiba port in Kuwait, killing 6 Army reservists; Pilots killed when 3 F-15EX aircraft shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses (friendly fire); Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington (26, Fort Carson, CO) died from injuries sustained in March 1 Iranian attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia; Maj. Sorffly Davius (46, Queens, NY) died from health-related incident at Camp Buehring, Kuwait; All 6 crew members killed when KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury; US death toll reaches 13: 7 killed by enemy fire, 6 in KC-135 crash (non-hostile), plus 2 friendly fire pilots and 1 health-related death tracked separately. 140 wounded, 8 severely, 108 returned to duty.Source: U.S. Department of Defense / CENTCOM, Pentagon, Military Times, Time, NPR, CBS News, CNN, The Hill, Task and Purpose, CPR News, Washington Times, CNBC, Al JazeeraIranian MilitaryKilled2183+Cumulative Iranian military/security forces killed through Day 6 (Hengaw). Includes 40+ senior commanders (Armed Forces Chief of Staff, IRGC Commander-in-Chief, Minister of Defense, Supreme Leader Khamenei), IRGC forces, regular military, and 13+ soldiers at Kerman base. Hengaw Day 6 report: 2,400 total killed, of which ~2,090 military/security.; Sri Lanka recovers 87 bodies from IRIS Dena frigate sunk by US submarine torpedo off Sri Lanka. 180 crew aboard; 87 bodies recovered, 61+ still missing, 32 rescued.; 4 Iran-backed Kataib Imam Ali (PMF) fighters killed, 12 wounded in US air strikes on positions in Dibis district, Kirkuk province, Iraq; Two Kataib Hezbollah members killed in strikes in Iraq, including one 'key figure'Source: CENTCOM, Hengaw, IDF estimates, Al Jazeera, Sri Lanka authorities via Scripps News, US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq attacked with missile that hits helipadIranian CiviliansKilled1567+Wounded13067+Updated cumulative civilian casualties through Day 11 - Iran's deputy health minister reports 1,255 killed and 12,000 wounded, mostly civilians including 200 children and 200 women; Additional civilian casualties in Tehran; 175 killed (mostly girls aged 7-12 plus staff) and 95 wounded at Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' elementary school in Minab. New video evidence suggests US Tomahawk missile was responsible. Condemned by UNESCO.; Shahid Hamedani elementary school in Tehran's Niloufar Square struck in US-Israeli attack - fourth school hit in war. Casualty count not yet released.; Four employees of Iran's oil distribution company killed in US-Israeli strikes on oil storage facilities in Tehran; Three people injured in Iranian drone attack on water desalination plant in Bahrain; Body of infant girl pulled from rubble of residential home in Tehran after wave of US-Israeli strikes; Several employees killed in Israeli attack on bank branch in Tehran overnight, described as 'illegitimate and unusual act in war'; 112 killed and 969 injured in US-Israeli attacks on Iran's Kurdistan province, with 27 hospitalized and 5 in intensive care; Family pulled from rubble after US-Israeli strikes on residential areas in Tehran - casualty count not specifiedSource: Iranian Red Crescent, AP, Reuters, Al Jazeera - Iranians get by as US, Israeli bombs rain down, UNICEF via Al Jazeera, Tehran residents donate blood amid ongoing US-Israel attacks on Iran - Al Jazeera, Iranian Deputy Health Minister Ali Jafarian via Al Jazeera, Iran state broadcaster via Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera - More than 110 people killed in Iran's Kurdistan: Official, Al Jazeera - Family pulled from the rubble after US-Israeli strikes on TehranLast updated: 2026-03-14
Note: Casualty figures are inherently uncertain during active conflict. Fog of war, information warfare, and limited access all affect accuracy. Figures shown represent best available estimates from cited sources and will be updated as confirmed data emerges.





Methodology & Sources

  Cost Model
  This tracker uses a three-phase cost model calibrated against published DoD cost data, CBO reports, and independent estimates from Brown University's Costs of War Project, the National Priorities Project, and Penn Wharton Budget Model.
  Phased Daily Rates
  Initial Strikes (Days 0–3): $280M–$520M/day (mid: $380M). Intensive standoff strikes, SEAD/DEAD, high sortie rates.
  Sustained Operations (Days 3–10): $150M–$320M/day (mid: $220M). Continued strikes, ISR, air dominance.
  Air Dominance / ISR-Heavy (Day 10+): $100M–$230M/day (mid: $155M). Reduced tempo, sustained presence.
  Discrete Costs
  One-time costs (munitions salvos, aircraft losses) are tracked separately and added to the operational burn rate at their recorded timestamps.
  Uncertainty
  All figures are displayed as low–mid–high ranges. The mid estimate is used for the main counter. True costs are classified and will only be known years later through GAO audits and supplemental appropriation bills.
  Sources
  DoD Comptroller FY2024/25 reimbursable flight-hour rates · CBO June 2025 F-35 report · GAO aircraft sustainment reports · TRANSCOM airlift rates · Defense News ship operating costs · Brown University Costs of War Project · National Priorities Project (IPS) · USNI News Fleet Tracker · DLA Energy fuel prices · RTX Tomahawk production data · Penn Wharton Budget Model · Anadolou Agency · Al Jazeera · Fortune · Yahoo Finance

🔐 Cryptographic Verification

Archived URL: https://iran-war-live.com/

�� CONTENT HASHES:
  SHA-256:  728da31a5d101b92895dcfcc9308d5ba5a782d675eff509298c6d59155f451ff
  BLAKE2b:  d52242e81af91a2680b895c7fc6a97dc5aee14ee8ef5c9f4c31ee7ccf5dfa1ea
  MD5:      83b009545e380cb38debe30a1eacc9fa

�� TITLE HASHES:
  SHA-256:  7871ce5272891a037435c4da6eeb823a02fd5c06add3ced208d301c29208d702
  BLAKE2b:  eb91381b2837c1ac8a95d9cd391c29d1a7589cdb35d4442ca7957651e05f68be
  MD5:      4dc320507196e4fb73c1fe3b713b5650

�� INTEGRITY HASHES:
  SHA-256:  94231005e2e81a93acc3c2178eb3f7edd43a747c9a9f5b583bafb07949685446
  BLAKE2b:  200066deb1bb01de73014753aff4bdd4b64181005708da0a189137151e1a216a
  MD5:      3467b368e043d89aa40d2d5d624d046a

Archived with ArcHive - Client-side cryptographic archival system