As the Iran–Israel conflict intensifies, a deeper question emerges: can the United States and its allies sustain this war? In this episode, The Hindu’s data team examines the hidden economics and industrial limits behind modern warfare. From the cost mismatch between Iranian drones and U.S. interceptor missiles, to the strain on American stockpiles, the numbers tell a story of a conflict that may be harder to sustain than it appears. Are U.S. weapons systems being used faster than they can be replaced? And could these vulnerabilities have wider geopolitical consequences, especially with China controlling key resources used in missile production? Host: Nitika Francis Guest: Air Marshal Ravi Kapoor (Retd.), former AOC-in-C of the Indian Air Force’s Central Air Command, to unpack the data, the strategy, and the risks ahead. Producer: Jude Weston For more episodes of In Focus: Published – March 23, 2026 06:29 pm IST Share this: Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon Click to share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Like this:Like Loading... Post navigation Shivamogga students take out march, appeal to UN to intervene to end ongoing war In Focus Podcast | Is the U.S. running out of missiles in the Iran-Israel war?