Jennifer Griffin reports on shrinking U.S. missile defense stockpiles as the Iran war consumes primary interceptors.
The United States is facing a significant drawdown in its missile defense inventories as the conflict with Iran consumes primary interceptors. According to analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the U.S. has expended approximately 65% of its pre-war Patriot missile interceptor inventory, leaving fewer than 1,000 units remaining. Additionally, THAAD interceptor inventories have declined by about 38%. Military planners are concerned that these depleted stockpiles will create readiness challenges if another major conflict erupts before the inventories can be rebuilt. Experts note that rebuilding these stockpiles could take three to five years, creating a strategic risk for other theaters, such as the Pacific. To address the shortage, the Pentagon has requested $18.2 billion in emergency funding for fiscal year 2026 to replace advanced systems like the Patriot, Navy Tomahawks, and THAAD. The Army has also awarded a $58.6 billion contract to Lockheed Martin to expand production capacity through 2032. These actions aim to ensure the U.S. maintains its defensive capabilities while managing the costs of the ongoing Middle East conflict.