The Arsenal as the Battlefield: The War on Iran and the Return of Counter-Industrial Targeting

The rise of "precise mass," where adversaries use large volumes of cheap drones and missiles, is challenging traditional American military superiority. America's reliance on expensive, high-tech munitions to counter these low-cost threats is proving to be an unsustainable strategy, rapidly depleting its own stockpiles. In response, a new focus is emerging on counter-industrial warfare, which involves directly targeting and destroying an adversary's capacity to manufacture and replenish its arsenal. This strategic shift, reminiscent of World War II bombing campaigns, suggests that future conflicts with major powers may hinge on crippling their defense production capabilities from the outset.