From cyber to Middle East, US and allies take stark lessons from 2026
ITA•US officials say sustained military operations in 2026 have depleted cyber capabilities and weapons stocks, while the Pentagon faces losses including as many as 40 MQ-9 Reaper drones. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the cost of Operation Epic Fury at just under $40 billion so far.
1. Cyber capabilities under strain
US commanders warned that sustained operations this year have eroded the country’s cyber advantages. Vice Admiral Heidi Berg said the “magazine” of cyber capabilities was being used up quickly, while Lieutenant General Christopher Eubank said demand for direct cyber support had been constant since the conflict with Iran began on February 28.
2. Weapons and aircraft losses
US military sources said the Pentagon had used large stocks of ATACMS, Patriot and Tomahawk missiles, which could take multiple years to rebuild. Specialist defence media reports say the Air Force has lost as many as 40 MQ-9 Reaper drones since the end of February, potentially a quarter of its airworthy fleet. The article also reports losses and damage to several other aircraft, and cites a Congressional Budget Office estimate that Operation Epic Fury has cost just under $40 billion so far.
3. Allies and deployments
The article describes concerns among allies about US military capacity, including Saudi Arabia seeking wider foreign support and Japan discussing whether it should consider atomic weapons. The US announced that some troops would return to Lithuania and that a small armoured force would be based in Estonia over the coming winter.
