U.S. Spends Over $800 Million on THAAD Missiles to Defend Israel
The United States reportedly expended over $800 million worth of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missiles within a span of just 11 to 12 days in its efforts to shield Israel from Iranian missile threats during recent escalations. The massive deployment marks one of the most significant uses of advanced U.S. missile defense systems in a short operational period and has drawn attention to the strategic implications of such high-scale military assistance.
Thaad Deployment and Cost
Each THAAD interceptor missile carries an estimated cost of $12 to $15 million. Based on this range, approximately 50 to 65 missiles were launched in the short span, reflecting a remarkably intense phase of engagement. Analysts suggest that this deployment may have consumed up to 15 to 20 percent of the U.S.’s total global THAAD interceptor stockpile.
Such an operation is unprecedented in terms of expenditure and scale in the region and signals both the magnitude of the threat assessment and the U.S.’s willingness to commit to Israel’s defense. Two THAAD batteries were reportedly used, demonstrating how critical the missile defense umbrella has become to regional stability.
Strategic and Inventory Impacts
The large-scale use of THAAD missiles has raised concerns over the sustainability of such a defensive posture. Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the THAAD system, currently produces around 50 to 60 interceptors per year. At this rate, replenishing the fired inventory could take well over a year, assuming production capacity is fully allocated for replacement.
Defense analysts caution that continued depletion of such high-cost and limited-inventory systems without corresponding resupply or production ramp-up could leave gaps in the U.S.’s strategic preparedness elsewhere in the world.
