The U.S. has used "virtually all" of its long-range ATACMS and PrSM missiles in its five-month war with Iran, according to sources. This depletion, along with shortages of Patriot and THAAD interceptors, raises concerns about U.S. military readiness for other conflicts. The White House has dismissed these concerns, stating that the U.S. has "far more munitions than we need" and that defense production is at record levels.
US munitions depletion
- ▪The military's official designation for the war with Iran, which began in February 2026, is "Operation Epic Fury."
- ▪U.S. Central Command has been able to resupply its forces in the Middle East from U.S. military stockpiles located elsewhere in the world
- ▪The U.S. Army has used "virtually all" of its Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) during its five-month war with Iran
- ▪The depletion of long-range missiles raises concerns about U.S. military readiness for potential future conflicts with adversaries like Russia and China
- ▪The White House and the Pentagon have publicly dismissed concerns about munitions stockpiles, stating the U.S. military has everything it needs
ATACMS missile systems
- ▪ATACMS missiles are being phased out of the U.S. arsenal and replaced by the newer Precision Strike Missile (PrSM)
- ▪Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) are surface-to-surface weapons that allow for accurate strikes from a safe distance, costing over $1 million each
- ▪The ATACMS and PrSM missile systems are both manufactured by the U.S. defense company Lockheed Martin
PrSM missile systems
- ▪U.S. Central Command used the PrSM in combat for the first time in early March 2026 during its attacks on Iran
- ▪The Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is a newer-generation weapon replacing the ATACMS, with a stated range of up to 500 kilometers (310 miles)
- ▪PrSM stockpiles were low when the war began because it is a relatively new munition that entered service in 2023
Air defense interceptor shortages
- ▪A CSIS report estimates it could take until at least mid-2029 to return to pre-war inventory levels for both Patriot and THAAD interceptors
- ▪A July 2026 report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimated the U.S. had used about 65% of its Patriot interceptors since the war began
- ▪The same CSIS report estimated that THAAD ballistic missile interceptor stockpiles were at least 38% lower than at the start of the war
Defense production ramp-up
- ▪President Trump stated that U.S. defense companies are making more munitions than ever and expanding plants at record levels
- ▪Lockheed Martin has pledged to quadruple its annual production of both THAAD interceptors and PrSMs
Iran war timeline
- ▪President Donald Trump launched the war with Iran jointly with Israel in February 2026
- ▪A U.S. official disputed the reason for halting the July offensive, attributing it to pressure from Gulf states rather than stockpile concerns
- ▪The conflict has sparked debate over President Trump's authority to conduct hostilities against Iran without congressional authorization
- ▪In late July 2026, President Trump reportedly decided against a major new offensive due to military advisers' warnings about dwindling U.S. stockpiles
Story comments
Loading comments…