Iran War Drains US Precision Missile Stocks
The United States has reportedly used nearly its entire inventory of key long-range precision missiles during five months of military operations against Iran, raising concerns about Washington’s preparedness for another major conflict.
US Precision Missile Stockpile Depleted
A Reuters report, based on information from three people familiar with military inventory data, said the US Army had consumed most of its available long-range surface-to-surface missiles.
The weapons include Army Tactical Missile Systems, known as ATACMS, and the newer Precision Strike Missile, or PrSM. Two people familiar with the figures described the remaining combined inventory as extremely limited, although exact stockpile numbers were not disclosed because the data is classified.
These missiles allow American forces to strike distant targets accurately while reducing the exposure of crewed aircraft to enemy air-defence systems.
Iran War Strains US Munitions Supply
US forces have relied heavily on precision weapons since operations against Iran began in February. The sustained campaign has also reportedly consumed significant numbers of Tomahawk cruise missiles and Patriot and THAAD air-defence interceptors.
The rate of expenditure has increased pressure on the US defence industry, where manufacturing specialised missiles can take several years. Military planners are reportedly searching global bases for available stocks while defence companies work to increase production.
Missile Shortage Raises China Readiness Concerns
The declining inventory has prompted questions about US readiness for a possible conflict involving a heavily defended adversary such as China. Long-range precision weapons would be central to American operations in the Indo-Pacific, particularly against distant or protected targets.
President Donald Trump has rejected concerns about ammunition shortages, saying the United States retains substantial military supplies and is expanding weapons production. The Pentagon has also maintained that American forces remain capable of completing assigned missions. However, publicly available information does not confirm how many ATACMS or PrSM weapons remain in operational inventories.
