DistantNews
Support us
๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ช Sweden /Conflict & Security

US Military Stockpile of Key Tactical Missiles Nearly Depleted, Sources Say

From Svenska Dagbladet · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The U.S. military has nearly depleted its stockpile of tactical missiles, including ATACMS and the newer Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), according to three sources familiar with the matter.
  • These precision-guided munitions have been extensively used in conflicts like the Iraq War and the war in Ukraine.
  • Sources warn that depleted stockpiles could jeopardize the U.S. ability to deter China and Russia, with ATACMS missiles costing at least $1 million each and taking up to two years to manufacture.

The United States military has nearly exhausted its inventory of tactical missiles, including the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and the newer Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), three sources with direct knowledge told Reuters. These precision-guided munitions have seen extensive use in recent conflicts, notably by U.S. forces in Iraq and by Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia.

The sources expressed concern that the near-complete depletion of these missile stockpiles poses a significant threat to the U.S. capacity for deterrence against major adversaries like China and Russia. The manufacturing timeline for these advanced weapons is substantial, with ATACMS missiles alone costing at least $1 million each and requiring up to two years to produce.

While exact figures on U.S. weapons and ammunition stockpiles are classified, previous reports in U.S. media have indicated a high rate of consumption for the nation's air defense missiles. The current situation raises questions about the readiness of U.S. forces and its ability to sustain prolonged high-intensity conflicts or respond effectively to emerging threats.

The reliance on these specific missile systems highlights their critical role in modern warfare for precision strikes and strategic advantage. The depletion suggests a potential gap between current operational demands and the rate of replenishment, a challenge that could have significant implications for national security and global power dynamics.

practically all

โ€” Sources with knowledge of the matterDescribing the near-depletion of U.S. tactical missile stockpiles.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Svenska Dagbladet in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.