A new report, supported by sources familiar with internal US Department of War data, has revealed a sharp decline in American stocks of advanced munitions, particularly Patriot and THAAD air defence missiles, because of the recent military escalation with Iran.
According to an investigation published by CNN, based on data from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, the United States now has fewer than 827 Patriot interceptor missiles and fewer than 278 THAAD interceptors remaining.
The report said Pentagon data indicated that before the war, US stockpiles were estimated at around 2,200 modern Patriot missiles and 452 THAAD missiles.
These systems are the United States’ primary means of intercepting ballistic missiles. With each interceptor costing millions of dollars, replacing depleted stocks has become a slow and costly process.
Internal and External Estimates Point to Severe Depletion
CNN’s report draws on three sources familiar with Pentagon data, a recent study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and official comments from the White House, the Pentagon and Congress.
It is therefore considered one of the most detailed assessments published to date on the condition of US military stockpiles.
The CNN findings align external estimates with internal assessments of the scale of depletion affecting US air defence missile reserves.
The network also cited a warning from the CSIS study that declining stockpiles could force the United States and its allies to accept greater risks and refrain from intercepting every hostile missile, given the limited number of effective alternatives to the Patriot and THAAD systems.
Naval vessels equipped with Standard missiles are also not always positioned where they can perform the same defensive role.
The report said General Dan Caine had previously told Trump during a Friday meeting that the declining stock of munitions was one of the major disadvantages of expanding the war against Iran.
Wider Strategic Consequences
Mark Cancian, a former US Marine Corps officer and senior defence analyst at CSIS, warned that a prolonged war with Iran could reduce American stockpiles to levels that would affect Washington’s ability to confront China or even North Korea.
Among the report’s most notable findings was information previously reported by NBC News, which indicated that US commanders had avoided intercepting Iranian missiles expected to fall in uninhabited areas within American bases in order to conserve remaining interceptors.
The report said this practice represented a change in the rules of engagement compared with the US response at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in 2020, when American forces intercepted an entire wave of Iranian missiles despite most of the base having been evacuated.
Production Expansion Could Take Years
The report also revealed that the US Department of War had accelerated efforts in recent months to expand interceptor missile production.
These measures included signing two new contracts this week to increase the production of engines for Patriot and THAAD missiles.
The Pentagon declined to specify when the expanded production capacity would begin delivering tangible results.
Several experts said rebuilding US stockpiles was expected to take years because of the lengthy manufacturing process required for these advanced munitions.
Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth have previously blamed former President Joe Biden’s administration for the ammunition shortages, arguing that large quantities were sent to Ukraine.
Members of both the Republican and Democratic parties, however, have said the crisis predates any single administration and requires a bipartisan response.
The report also cited Republican Senator Susan Collins, who said the ammunition shortage had been known for years but had become more urgent as the war continued.
White House officials, meanwhile, argued that publishing information suggesting the United States was running out of missiles threatened US national security.
