Pentagon Seeks $55B for Drones as Iran War Costs Rise

The U.S. war in Iran has cost $25 billion so far, a senior Pentagon official told lawmakers on Wednesday. Jules Hurst, performing the duties of the comptroller, revealed this figure during testimony before the House Armed Services Committee.

With mid-term elections approaching and Democrats linking the unpopular conflict to affordability concerns, Republicans face an uphill battle in public opinion polls. The war has led to disruptions in oil and natural gas shipments, causing a surge in U.S. gasoline prices and agricultural products like fertilizers.

The Pentagon has poured tens of thousands of additional forces into the Middle East since the conflict began on February 28. According to Reuters, thirteen U.S. troops have been killed, and hundreds wounded during this time.

The conflict has raised concerns about depleted weapons stockpiles and production delays. The U.S. military has used over 850 Tomahawk missiles, representing years of stockpile accumulation. Defense contractors are racing to boost missile production after years of output that lagged behind current demand.

Major defense contractors have struck new agreements with the Pentagon and pledged to significantly increase production across several high-end munitions programs. However, senior military officials warn the buildup will take time. The Atlantic reported that Vice President JD Vance questioned whether the Pentagon is fully accounting for how much those stockpiles were depleted during the Iran conflict.

In a significant budget shift, the Pentagon is seeking roughly $55 billion for drone and autonomous warfare programs in its fiscal year 2027 budget. This dramatic increase from roughly $225 million a year earlier signals a major change in how the U.S. military plans to fight future wars, focusing on large numbers of lower-cost, AI-enabled systems. The funding is tied to the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group and spans multiple programs across procurement, research, training, and sustainment.

The administration is seeking roughly $1.5 trillion in national defense spending for fiscal year 2027, a more than 40% increase from the prior year. This budget request includes major investments in drones, missile defense, and next-generation warfare systems. War Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to face questions on the budget when he testifies before Congress Thursday.

The shift in doctrine involves moving away from high-cost platforms toward deploying large numbers of cheaper systems capable of operating in coordinated groups, often referred to as drone swarms. Recent confrontations in the Middle East and Ukraine have exposed vulnerabilities in U.S. defenses against low-cost aerial threats, driving the push for new defense strategies.