The US military has used up nearly four-fifths of its interceptors for a key missile defence system, according to multiple sources familiar with internal assessments, as senior commanders warn that Pentagon stocks are “dangerously low”.

The shortages have been particularly pronounced during the conflict with Iran, the sources said. Two of them, citing the latest inventory figures, said the US has depleted almost 80% of its THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) missile inventory compared with pre-war levels. They also said the Army has consumed roughly half of its Patriot interceptor stockpile since the start of the war.

One of the sources said the THAAD shortfall had not been publicly reported before. The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated the United States held about 2,200 Patriot missiles covering the two most modernised variants, alongside 452 THAAD missiles, before the Iran conflict began.

Munitions Drawdown During Iran War

In addition to THAAD and Patriot interceptors, the sources said the Army has also spent “virtually all” of its highly accurate long-range surface-to-air weapons during the fighting, citing an internal Pentagon report seen by one source. Reuters previously reported separate concerns about the Pentagon’s stock of long-range strategic missiles.

The long-range missiles that have been heavily used were identified as Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM). One source said the Tomahawk cruise missile inventory also remains significantly reduced, with nearly half of those weapons used during the war. CNN reported in April that the US had spent close to 30% of its Tomahawks during the early stages of the conflict.

Weekend Strikes Called Off

The stockpile warnings were raised again before President Donald Trump decided over the weekend to cancel planned new strikes on Iran, a move described by the sources as the latest sign that military advisers have repeatedly urged caution.

They said Trump had been preparing major operations, and that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth received the final order to proceed on Friday. Trump later decided to hold back after discussions with Middle East allies on Saturday, who warned that further strikes could prompt Iranian retaliation, particularly against energy infrastructure.

Under the decision, Trump told Hegseth to stand down for now, while keeping the possibility of future strikes open.

A senior Trump official said the allies’ concerns about retaliatory attacks on energy assets were among the factors that influenced the President. The sources said other intelligence presented to Trump, including assessments suggesting strikes on parts of Iran’s critical infrastructure could have adverse effects, also contributed to the decision.

Wider Risks For US And Partners

The sources said Gulf officials that depend on US air defence systems have also raised concerns that shortages could reduce their ability to intercept Iranian missile and drone attacks, especially if Iran targets them in response to any American escalation.

They also warned that depleted interceptor supplies could affect the US military’s ability to sustain operations, noting the risk that a lack of interceptors could allow large numbers of drones to pass through. One source described the problem as a retaliatory cycle that would be difficult to stop once attacks began.

Experts cited by CNN also said the shortages could limit US options in a future conflict with major powers such as China or Russia, and even in a scenario involving North Korea.

The issue has also been raised at high-level meetings outside the most recent weekend decision. CNN reported that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine raised stockpile concerns during a White House meeting late last month focused on possible escalation options. A separate person familiar with the matter said discussions also included concerns about the potential for mass civilian casualties inside Iran if major US combat operations resumed.

The Pentagon and White House have disputed the implications of the reports. The Pentagon’s chief spokesman, Sean Parnell, said in a statement that the military has the capabilities needed at the time and place chosen by the President. A White House spokesperson, Anna Kelly, told CNN that the armed forces have more than enough munitions and stocks to meet the administration’s strategic goals.

Trump, for his part, posted on social media on Monday after Iran contradicted his assertion that negotiations would resume, describing Iranian leadership as “unbelievably duplicitous”. He later said it was Iran’s “last chance” to sign a deal, while also saying he was not constrained by negotiation deadlines because he was not seeking re-election.

Replenishment And Production Efforts

Analysts cited by CNN said replenishment rates for key missiles are slow. On the current fiscal year delivery schedule, the Pentagon is receiving about 15 new Tomahawks and 20 Patriot interceptor missiles each month. The CSIS estimated it would take three years or more to rebuild THAAD inventories back to pre-war levels.

The Defense Department has recently accelerated efforts to expand interceptor production, including two deals signed this week to increase Patriot and THAAD rocket motor manufacturing. A spokesperson did not comment on when the expanded output would translate into fielded numbers.

CSIS analysis also indicated that other inventories, including Precision Strike Missile and Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile stocks, should recover to pre-war levels by mid-to-late 2027.

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5 August 2026

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Perhaps Iran could return some of the Tomahawk

missiles the GOP sold them in the 1980's ?

5 minutes ago, Jim Blue said:

Perhaps Iran could return some of the Tomahawk

missiles the GOP sold them in the 1980's ?

No. The United States did not sell Tomahawk cruise missiles to Iran during the 1980s.

6 minutes ago, Jim Blue said:

Perhaps Iran could return some of the Tomahawk

missiles the GOP sold them in the 1980's ?

Do you not mean the ones Biden left in Afghanistan for them?

Or the drone Obama gave them to copy?

The Iranian's are begging for a ceasefire 🤣

Some disinformation here from the members...the MAGA members.

It was under Reagan that Iran was given advanced weaponry---despite Iran-funded Hezbollah having blown up the US Embassy in Beirut and the US Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983. Supposedly that "deal" was to get a couple of hostages in Lebanon released, but it was really to get a source of black money to supports the Contras.

As for drones....Iran is one of the more capable hacker nations, along with the US, Israel, Russia and North Korea. During Trump 1.0, Iran hacked into and landed a US drone, which they subsequently shared with China.

Finally, no advanced weapons were left in Afghanistan. Lots of vehicles and small arms, but anything of significant value was destroyed. Biden was handed a withdrawal plan when he beat Trump in 2020. Trump, let us not forget, released 5000 jihadis that were being held by the coalition. Those former prisoners went on to lead the Taliban's retaking of power in Afghanistan. AFTER the fact, MAGAs pretend the withdrawal was Biden's fault. I did not hear any MAGAs volunteer to go to Afghanistan and supervise the removal of 20 years worth of gear and weapons. That would have taken months, and the soldiers or contractors required to do such a massive job would have been in a turkey shoot. Hundreds, if not thousands, would have been killed.

What Biden did leave in Afghanistan was the remains of Ayman al Zawahiri, al Qaeda's leader and former Number 2 under ObL. Biden authorized the use of the agency's "Flying Ginsu" that minced al Zawahiri inside his Kabul villa.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The US military has used up nearly four-fifths of its interceptors for a key missile defence system, according to multiple sources familiar with internal assessments, as senior commanders warn that Pentagon stocks are “dangerously low”.

Let's hope it is true and not mislead again.

Why else would you let this know ?

The Pentagon numbers say it all. At some stage, it really doesn’t matter how determined Trump is. Logistics will put a hard ceiling on his “win at all costs” plan.

The more he orders strikes, the faster the stocks are depleted, and the fewer options remain.

It’s a blunt lesson in supply and demand: the more Trump demands the more critical the supply.

The USA could demand that Israel return all the missiles that they provided to Israel.

But, as the USA is controlled by Israel and US-based Zionists ....

Dated 27 July 2026:

https://www.politico.com/gallery/2026/07/31/the-nations-cartoonists-on-the-week-in-politics-01018178?slide=2

I'm amazed at the level of information hitting the airwaves nowadays. I served on the U.S.S. Enterprise (CVN 65) and allowing anything like our armaments nearing dangerously low levels to be shared would be strictly prohibited. The US' adversaries are weighing whether or not they should start attacking different global targets cuz Murikkka is almost out of gas and can't defend its allies.

And should this all turn nuclear, then hold on to your butts, that would be a bumpy ride.

2 hours ago, johng said:

The Iranian's are begging for a ceasefire 🤣

They must be- because the orange felon said so!

1 hour ago, HappyExpat57 said:

I'm amazed at the level of information hitting the airwaves nowadays. I served on the U.S.S. Enterprise (CVN 65) and allowing anything like our armaments nearing dangerously low levels to be shared would be strictly prohibited. The US' adversaries are weighing whether or not they should start attacking different global targets cuz Murikkka is almost out of gas and can't defend its allies.

And should this all turn nuclear, then hold on to your butts, that would be a bumpy ride.

It is nice that this is now all public information.

Sounds like a good time to invest in some defense Companies.

4 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Sounds like a good time to invest in some defense Companies.

Word of caution that the manufacturing of interceptors will be handicapped by the shortages of rare earth and other critical minerals. That’s how dumb your President is with the tariffs war against China and allies.

2 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

I'm amazed at the level of information hitting the airwaves nowadays. I served on the U.S.S. Enterprise (CVN 65) and allowing anything like our armaments nearing dangerously low levels to be shared would be strictly prohibited. The US' adversaries are weighing whether or not they should start attacking different global targets cuz Murikkka is almost out of gas and can't defend its allies.

And should this all turn nuclear, then hold on to your butts, that would be a bumpy ride.

Yeah, and it's Allies don't seem to keen on helping the US for all the obvious reasons that have been widely reported, and many might not be able to defend themselves too well either.

40 minutes ago, Watawattana said:

Yeah, and it's Allies don't seem to keen on helping the US for all the obvious reasons that have been widely reported, and many might not be able to defend themselves too well either.

US is not longer the trusted world leader it once was. This will take generations to fix, and will probably never be renewed 100%.

Trust, once broken, is impossible to be completely restored.

54 minutes ago, Watawattana said:

Yeah, and it's Allies don't seem to keen on helping the US for all the obvious reasons that have been widely reported, and many might not be able to defend themselves too well either.

What are the obvious reasons?

27 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

US is not longer the trusted world leader it once was. This will take generations to fix, and will probably never be renewed 100%.

Trust, once broken, is impossible to be completely restored.

I guess this is the thinking of the 47th. Why care for allies, as the US is so big and powerfull they can do everything by themselves.

Putin, and Xi are happy with that.

Defence, eh. The US needs all those missiles because Canadians and Mexicans regularly launch strikes on the homeland. Playing offence, not defence.

1 hour ago, HappyExpat57 said:

US is not longer the trusted world leader it once was. This will take generations to fix, and will probably never be renewed 100%.

Trust, once broken, is impossible to be completely restored.

The fragility of US political system has been exposed and the world will never trust US for fear of another Trump like figure will again be the President and screw up the world. It can happen unless the electoral college system is changed to a more democratic system and the constitution strengthened.

In recent global poll, President Xi and China are seen as more trust worthy than USA. The global world order will change henceforth with alliances shift and US exceptionalism will erode. Trump has done enormous damage to USA trade and foreign policy.

2 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

What are the obvious reasons?

Take you tin foil MAGA hat and blinkers off, if at all possible, and you will rapidly find out!

35 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

Take you tin foil MAGA hat and blinkers off, if at all possible, and you will rapidly find out!

So, as usual, you have no idea, you just regurgitate the party line.

1 hour ago, Yellowtail said:

So, as usual, you have no idea, you just regurgitate the party line.

I find that comment hilarious, coming from someone who only ever regurgitates the MAGA party line! 🤣

PS; I assume you were looking in the mirror when you thought(?) of that not so original line!

Edited August 5Aug 5 by scottiejohn

CSIS made the shortage clear in its December '25 analysis, after the heavy expenditure of missiles in the Middle East that year.

"The recent THAAD, MSE, and SM-3 employment in the Middle East shows that current inventories and production rates of missile defense interceptors are insufficient. Their employment in unexpected conflicts should be planned for, rather than come as a surprise that disrupts the inventory and prompts considerable course corrections."

https://www.csis.org/analysis/depleting-missile-defense-interceptor-inventory

Edited August 5Aug 5 by Enoon

35 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

I find that comment hilarious, coming from someone who only ever regurgitates the MAGA party line! 🤣

PS; I assume you were looking in the mirror when you thought(?) of that not so original line!

Can one burn extra calories engaging with trolls? Asking for a friend.

Umm, why can’t they refurbish old factories and start making more? If they continue with what they’re doing they will never catch up and most likely lose. This US government and President are f ing up everything they touch and with dimwit at the helm, I’d be very wary of his plans and could see the maniac pushing the big red button, just so he can say he won, and destroy the world. Sure hope that he wants to watch this sht go down and stay the hell out of the bunkers made to preserve truly good presidents.

33 minutes ago, jcmj said:

why can’t they refurbish old factories and start making more?

Getting a new Patriot interceptor from the factory floor to military stockpiles can take more than two years, as per a report by The Wall Street Journal.

5 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

The fragility of US political system has been exposed and the world will never trust US for fear of another Trump like figure will again be the President and screw up the world. It can happen unless the electoral college system is changed to a more democratic system and the constitution strengthened.

In recent global poll, President Xi and China are seen as more trust worthy than USA. The global world order will change henceforth with alliances shift and US exceptionalism will erode. Trump has done enormous damage to USA trade and foreign policy.

You're right about the idiotic EC that turns the losers of an election into its winners. However it played no role last time: 77 million Americans voted for this calumny. Trump is but a symptom of a lack of entire systemic reform. There are more frightening figures in the shadows behind Trump waiting to take over long before another Trump aspires to greatness.

The rest of the world has now clocked that (at last). The 'special relationship', the alliances, the 'friendships' are all now becoming history and will be as soon as the still free world has adequately adapted.

Cheery bye!

2 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

I find that comment hilarious, coming from someone who only ever regurgitates the MAGA party line! 🤣

PS; I assume you were looking in the mirror when you thought(?) of that not so original line!

Ignorance is bliss