US military endurance challenged by munitions shortages and industrial bottlenecks

A Pentagon inspector general report has highlighted vulnerabilities in United States military endurance following recent conflicts. Findings from a September 2026 report indicate that the U.S. military experienced strategic munitions shortfalls and identified significant bottlenecks within the American defense-industrial base.

During Operation Epic Fury, which took place between February 28 and June 30, costs were estimated at $33.4 billion, with $22.3 billion attributed to expended munitions. The report emphasizes a distinction between possessing advanced military capabilities and the ability to rapidly replenish them. The high expenditure of weapons created inventory shortages that are difficult to resolve quickly due to the specialized components and highly trained labor required for production.

Concurrently, the U.S. Navy is facing a changing security environment where traditional carrier strike group dominance is challenged by near-peer competitors. The rise of anti-ship missiles, hypersonic weapons, and electronic warfare has necessitated a transformation of naval strategy. The Navy is currently working to integrate unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, and distributed networks to maintain power projection in contested environments.