US interceptor stockpiles drop to under half amid Iran war

The United States has depleted a significant portion of its advanced missile defense inventory during five months of conflict with Iran, according to a new report, raising concerns about military readiness and strategic flexibility. The assessment, released on July 29 by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), estimates that U.S. stockpiles of Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors have fallen sharply since hostilities escalated in late February.

Before the conflict, the U.S. military possessed approximately 2,200 Patriot interceptors of its most advanced models and about 452 THAAD missiles. Current reserves have dwindled to fewer than 827 Patriot interceptors and fewer than 278 THAAD ballistic missile interceptors, the report states. Analysts estimate the military has used roughly two-thirds of its pre-war Patriot inventory and about half of its THAAD interceptors during the sustained campaign to defend American forces and allied infrastructure from repeated Iranian missile and drone attacks.

The depletion has prompted warnings from defense analysts that diminished stockpiles could force the United States and its coalition...