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US Missile Stocks Dangerously Low Amid Iran Conflict, Report Claims
🇰🇷 South Korea /Conflict & Security

US Missile Stocks Dangerously Low Amid Iran Conflict, Report Claims

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • A report suggests the U.S. has depleted over half its Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptor missiles and about 40% of THAAD interceptors due to the conflict with Iran.
  • Long-range precision missiles are also reportedly scarce, with some precision-strike missiles potentially already depleted.
  • The Pentagon denies these claims, stating the U.S. has sufficient munitions, while requesting emergency funds to replenish depleted key munitions.

The United States' critical missile stockpiles may be dangerously low due to the prolonged conflict with Iran, according to an analysis by Bloomberg Economics. The report indicates a severe shortage in air defense interceptor missiles and a tight supply of precision long-range weapons, raising concerns that U.S. deterrence capabilities in other regions could be weakened.

The U.S. is not without missiles, but it is running out of the right missiles for the situation.

— Bloomberg Economics ReportDescribing the nature of the U.S. missile supply issues.

The analysis suggests that the U.S. might have used more than half of its high-performance Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptor missiles while defending against Iranian retaliatory attacks. Approximately 40% of THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) interceptor missiles are also estimated to have been expended. The situation with offensive missiles appears similar, with the military having extensively used long-range missiles to strike targets from afar early in the conflict. Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) are assessed as potentially already depleted.

"The U.S. is not without missiles, but it is running out of the right missiles for the situation," the report states, highlighting that "the war has consumed them faster than they can be bought and produced." While missile inventory figures are classified, the analysis is based on U.S. Department of Defense budget data and publicly available information on weapon stocks.

The war has consumed them faster than they can be bought and produced.

— Bloomberg Economics ReportExplaining the rate at which U.S. military hardware is being depleted.

However, the Pentagon has refuted these findings. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell called the claims of U.S. ammunition shortages "false," asserting that the military possesses adequate resources. The U.S. military has reportedly targeted over 13,000 sites in the conflict with Iran, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reporting costs reaching $37.5 billion. Of the emergency funds requested by the Department of Defense, $18.2 billion is earmarked for replenishing depleted key munitions.

The claims that the U.S. is running out of ammunition are false.

— Sean ParnellPentagon spokesperson refuting the report's findings on missile shortages.

The report warns that if the U.S. continues to deploy scarce interceptor missiles to the Iran front, it may need to divert weapons from other theaters. "Trump can continue or escalate the war, but he will now have to accept heavier trade-offs," the analysis concluded.

Trump can continue or escalate the war, but he will now have to accept heavier trade-offs.

— Bloomberg Economics ReportAnalyzing the potential consequences of continued military engagement.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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