US depletes long-range missile stockpiles in Iran war

The United States has significantly depleted its stockpiles of long-range precision missiles and key air defense interceptors during its five-month military campaign against Iran, raising concerns about military readiness for potential future conflicts with major powers like China and Russia. According to multiple sources familiar with internal data, the U.S. has used virtually all of its available Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) in operations that began in late February. The conflict has also sharply reduced inventories of Patriot and THAAD missile interceptors and consumed nearly half of the global supply of Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The extensive use of these advanced weapons, which cost over $1 million each, has exposed strain on the U.S. defense industrial base and sparked intense internal debate over the sustainability of prolonged warfare. Analysts note that production of these complex munitions cannot quickly compensate for the rapid wartime consumption, with some items taking years to replace. The situation has led to tense conversations within the administration about how long the military can continue striking Iran without...