loading . . . How much did it cost the United States to attack the Iranian nuclear facilities? The cost of the U.S. attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, codenamed Operation Midnight Hammer, is estimated to be between $260 million and $7.2 billion, based on various analyses of the military assets used. The operation, conducted on June 21, 2025, involved B-2 stealth bombers, GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and extensive logistical support. Below is a breakdown of the estimated costs from available sources: Bombs and Missiles: 14 GBU-57 MOP bombs, each costing approximately $25 million, were used on the Fordo and Natanz sites, totaling $350 million. 30 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs) were fired at Natanz and Isfahan, with each missile costing around $3.8 million, amounting to $114 million. Aircraft Operations: Seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers were deployed, with operational costs estimated at $44.1 million for the mission, factoring in flight hours and maintenance. Additional air cover from 40 F-22s ($44,000/hour for 80 hours, totaling $140 million) and 40 F-16s ($27,000/hour for 80 hours, totaling $90 million) contributed to an estimated $230 million for air support. Logistics and Support: Logistical operations, including mid-air refueling and support staff, are estimated at $55.5 million. Submarine operations (likely involving the USS Georgia) added approximately $0.7 million. Personnel: Personnel costs were minimal, estimated at $0.01 million. Total Estimates: Lower-end estimates, combining bombs, missiles, aircraft, logistics, and personnel, suggest a cost of around $388.1 million to $425.2 million. Higher-end estimates, particularly factoring in the full cost of deploying six B-2 bombers (each valued at $1.2 billion, though not lost in the operation) and associated munitions, reach up to $7.2 billion. One source suggests a range of $260 million to $476.7 million, depending on operational variables. These figures are speculative and vary due to differences in accounting for fixed costs (e.g., bomber procurement) versus operational costs (e.g., fuel, maintenance, and munitions). Iran reported minimal damage, claiming the facilities were evacuated beforehand, which has led some to question the cost-effectiveness of the operation. Note: The higher $7.2 billion estimate includes the procurement cost of B-2 bombers, which is misleading as the aircraft were not expended. More realistic operational costs likely fall in the $300–500 million range. Exact figures are difficult to confirm due to the lack of official Pentagon disclosures and the complexity of military accounting. For comparison, some analysts note that Iran’s reported repair costs were significantly lower, around $40 million, highlighting a potential disparity in economic impact. For further details on costs or military budgets, official sources like the Pentagon or Congressional Budget Office reports would be needed, but they are not publicly available for this specific operation. https://x.com/i/grok/share/IT7FT8Yaf6yWNyq28TjlsKaNL
