CSIS: US missile stockpiles significantly depleted following conflict in the Middle East.
A new report from CSIS warns that the US Patriot and THAAD missile arsenals have been reduced by more than 50%, posing a serious security risk and taking years to restore capabilities.
According to the latest report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the US military is facing a depletion of critical weapons stockpiles after seven weeks of ongoing conflict with Iran. The decline in advanced offensive and defensive missiles is assessed as creating short-term risks, leaving US combat capabilities vulnerable in future conflict scenarios.
The rate of attrition of strategic weapon systems.
Analysis of the data reveals that intense combat operations have consumed a significant portion of the most modern weaponry. Specifically, the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) arsenal has seen a decrease of at least 45%. The US defense system is also under considerable pressure, with nearly 50% of Patriot interceptor missiles and more than half of the THAAD high-altitude air defense system missiles already deployed.
In addition, long-range guided weapons also saw a significant decline:
- Tomahawk cruise missiles: Approximately 30% of the total stockpile has been depleted.
- Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM): Reduced by over 20%.
- SM-3 and SM-6 interceptor missiles: Reduced by approximately 20%.
Challenges in restoring reserves
Experts at CSIS believe that the process of closing these gaps will be slow and costly. Rebuilding the stockpile is expected to take one to four years, and even more time is needed to expand to the necessary scale. Notably, the Pentagon has approached major automakers such as General Motors and Ford to discuss converting civilian factories to produce ammunition and military equipment to meet urgent needs.
Reaction from the authorities
Despite the report presenting alarming figures, the Pentagon has issued a rebuttal. Spokesman Sean Parnell asserted that the U.S. military maintains full resources to carry out strategic missions as requested by the president. President Donald Trump also downplayed the importance of the attrition figures, claiming the U.S. has a virtually unlimited supply of weapons.
However, budgetary moves reveal a different reality. The administration has proposed a record military budget of approximately $1.5 trillion for fiscal year 2027. Much of this is expected to be allocated to urgently replenish weapons stockpiles depleted during the recent campaign.
