WASHINGTON: Five months into its war with Iran, the United States has burned through nearly all of its most prized long-range precision missiles, leaving military planners worried about readiness for the next fight.
Three sources familiar with internal data told reporters that the Army has used “virtually all” of its Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and the newer Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM). Each costs more than $1 million. They let the military hit targets from far away without putting pilots in harm’s way.
“These weapons allow the military to attack targets from a distance,” one analyst noted. In a conflict against a foe with strong air defences, think China, they would be invaluable.
The war began in February, when President Donald Trump and Israel launched joint strikes. Trump predicted a short campaign. But as the months dragged on, missile stockpiles shrank faster than expected.
A fourth source said Central Command which oversees US forces in the Middle East had nearly emptied its pre war supply of land-based missiles. It has since reloaded from stockpiles elsewhere in the world.
When asked about the numbers, the White House released a statement from Trump: the US had “far more munitions than anyone in the world” and “far more than we need.” Defence companies, he said, were producing at record levels.
Analysts agree production is up but warn it may not be enough for a prolonged war. Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, the makers of ATACMS, PrSMs, Tomahawks and Patriot interceptors, did not immediately respond to questions.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said: “America’s military is the most powerful in the world and has everything it needs.”
Yet inside the administration, conversations have grown tense. How much longer can the US keep striking Iran without leaving itself exposed elsewhere?
The drawdown reflects a deliberate choice: avoid riskier attacks using piloted aircraft. But that choice comes with a cost. According to a March report by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), PrSM stockpiles were already low, it’s a new weapon, though the Army has ordered more for 2027.
Defensive weapons are also running thin. CSIS estimated that between February and July, about 65% of Patriot interceptors were expended. THAAD ballistic missile interceptors fell by at least 38%. The US also used nearly half its global supply of Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Raytheon has reached a tentative deal with the Pentagon to boost Tomahawk production. But rebuilding stockpiles will take years.
For now, the question hangs heavy: if another crisis erupts in Asia, in Europe will the US have enough arrows left in its quiver?
