The U.S. war effort in Iran has created a real-world testing ground of U.S. military capabilities that might be needed in a potential future conflict with China.
While Iran and China differ greatly in scale and power, the current conflict can serve as a laboratory for refining tactics, technologies, and operational concepts that would be critical in a showdown with a more powerful adversary.
The U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team performs during the 2025 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show in San Diego, Sept. 27, 2025. The F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team performs precision aerial maneuvers at Air Shows across the world to demonstrate the unique capabilities of the world’s premier 5th generation fighter aircraft. America’s Air Show 2025 is a unique and incredible opportunity to witness Marine and joint aviation capabilities, civilian performers and the world-famous Blue Angels; to celebrate the 250th birthday of the Marine Corps alongside Marines and to see first-hand the innovative spirit of the Marine Corps through emerging technologies and forward-thinking. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jordan Searls)
U.S. Air Force Gen. Kevin B. Schneider, Pacific Air Forces commander, pilots the lead F-22 Raptor rendezvousing with a C-17 Globemaster III, both from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, during a mission off the coast of O‘ahu, April 8, 2025. PACAF provides ready and lethal forces to ensure stability and security in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Emerson Nuñez)
One of the most significant lessons from U.S. attacks on Iran is the effectiveness of precision strikes against hardened and dispersed targets.
Strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in 2025 as part of Operation Midnight Hammer demonstrated the U.S. military’s ability to destroy deeply buried sites using bunker-buster bombs delivered by B-2 stealth aircraft.
Similarly, the recent bombing of Kharg Island targeted over 90 military sites with high precision while deliberately avoiding energy infrastructure.
These operations highlight the importance of intelligence and advanced munitions in achieving strategic objectives without unnecessary escalation.
Pentagon analysts call this “effects-based” warfare, a philosophical approach to air attack that seeks to exact a specific outcome without destroying the infrastructure of the attacked country.
Precision Munitions
However, the Iran conflict also exposes a critical limitation: the rapid consumption of precision munitions.
Multiple reports indicate that U.S. forces have burned through large numbers of Tomahawk cruise missiles and other high-end weapons during operations against Iran, raising concerns about long-term readiness.
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Two F-22 Raptors perform a flyover and air demonstration during noon meal formation at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., April 12, 2023. Events such as these aim to cultivate warrior ethos, a future-focused mindset, and supplement existing character, leadership, and officer development efforts with the cadets. (U.S Air Force Photo by Trevor Cokley)
This has direct implications for a potential conflict with China, which would require far greater munitions volumes over a longer period.
The lesson is clear—industrial capacity and stockpile depth are just as important as battlefield performance. Without sufficient production and replenishment capabilities, even the most advanced military can face shortages in a prolonged war.
Another crucial lesson involves missile defense and the challenge of countering swarm attacks. Iranian missile launches and drone attacks have provided U.S. forces with real combat experience intercepting incoming threats.
For example, a large-scale Patriot missile engagement during an Iranian attack allowed U.S. crews to defend against ballistic missiles.
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor performs a vertical climb during the 2025 Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) Kaneohe Bay Air Show, at MCBH, Aug. 9, 2025. The Kaneohe Bay Air Show provided an opportunity to showcase the aircraft, equipment, and capabilities of the armed forces in the Indo-Pacific region to the local community. The air show, which contained aerial performances, static displays, demonstrations, and vendors, was designed to celebrate MCBH’s longstanding relationship with the local community. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Peter Bannister)
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor is displayed on the flight line during a summit between U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Aug. 15, 2025. (Alaska National Guard photo by Seth LaCount)
These experiences are directly applicable to the Indo-Pacific, where U.S. bases and ships would face even more sophisticated and numerous missile threats from China. At the same time, the Iran conflict has revealed how quickly defensive interceptors can be depleted during sustained attacks, underscoring the need for more efficient and scalable defense systems.
Iran’s asymmetric attacks also provide important insights. The recent Iranian drone strike on a U.S. logistics hub in Kuwait demonstrated how relatively low-cost systems can disrupt critical infrastructure and inflict casualties.
This highlights the vulnerability of U.S. supply chains and forward bases—an issue that would be even more pronounced in the vast Indo-Pacific theater.
In a conflict with China, protecting logistics hubs, ports, and airfields from drone and missile attacks would be essential to sustaining operations.
Cyber & AI
Cyber operations and electronic warfare are another area in which the Iran conflict offers valuable lessons.
U.S. operations reportedly included cyberattacks and electronic warfare measures to disrupt Iranian communications, radar systems, and missile networks.
These capabilities would likely play an even larger role in a war with China—both sides would possess advanced cyber and electronic warfare tools.
Finally, the Iran conflict demonstrates the global and geopolitical dimensions of modern warfare.
China’s economic and strategic ties to Iran—particularly its reliance on Middle Eastern oil—mean that U.S. actions in the region can indirectly affect Chinese interests. Additionally, reports of Chinese and Russian cooperation with Iran suggest that conflicts are increasingly interconnected.
This reinforces the importance of alliances, diplomacy, and economic strategy in any potential conflict with China.
About the Author: Kris Osborn, Warrior Maven President
Kris Osborn is the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
