Modern War Institute The Weapons Defining the Iran Conflict
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Mar 11, 2026 
Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at CSIS, provides expert analysis on missile, drone, and air-defense systems. He walks through the weapons shaping the Iran conflict. The conversation covers interceptor supply strains, shifts from precision standoff munitions to massed bombs, the drone versus missile defense challenge, and what true air-defense integration means.
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Missile Production Vs Interceptor Attrition
- Iran's missile and drone production created an unsustainable attrition problem for US and Israeli interceptors.
- Tom Karako noted Iran may produce ~100 missiles per month while interceptor production is far lower, stressing resources and strategy.
Strikes Targeted Iran's Missile Infrastructure
- Historic use of submarines to sink a ship and targeted strikes on missile infrastructure signaled focus on degrading Iranian missile capabilities.
- Karako connected these actions to political statements pressing to 'solve' Iran's missile program comprehensively.
Munitions Transition To Less Scarce Weapons
- The US shifted from scarce long‑range standoff munitions to abundant gravity bombs and JDAMs as operations progressed.
- Karako highlighted General Kane's comment about a 'munitions transition' reducing reliance on Tomahawks and JASSMs.