The United States military has reportedly expended almost its entire global arsenal of highly accurate long-range surface-to-surface missiles during the five-month conflict with Iran. This critical depletion has sparked alarm within the Trump administration regarding the nation's capacity to engage in future conflicts and maintain its deterrent posture.
Sources cited in a Bloomberg report indicate that the expended munitions include the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and the newer Precision Strike Missile (PrSM). Both are integral to the US Army's long-range precision strike capabilities, enabling targets to be hit accurately from significant distances without exposing piloted aircraft to enemy air defenses. Each of these advanced missiles carries a cost exceeding $1 million.
The extensive use of these missiles suggests a strategic decision by the Trump administration to avoid the higher risks associated with piloted bombing missions against Iranian targets. However, the dwindling stockpiles mean that if large-scale attacks on Iran were to resume, the US might be forced to rely more heavily on such riskier manned aircraft operations.
Concerns are growing that the reduced missile inventories could significantly weaken the United States' ability to deter potential adversaries, including major powers like Russia and China. While US Central Command has reportedly been replenishing supplies by drawing from military stockpiles worldwide, the long-term sustainability of this approach is under internal discussion.
President Donald Trump, when questioned about the stockpile levels, dismissed the concerns, asserting that the US possesses “far more munitions than anyone in the world” and “far more than we need.” He also highlighted that US defense manufacturers are increasing production and expanding their manufacturing capacity. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell echoed this sentiment, stating the US military “has everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the President’s choosing” and maintains a robust arsenal.
Beyond offensive capabilities, the report also highlights concerns regarding defensive weapons. A recent analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies indicated that approximately 65% of Patriot interceptor missiles and at least 38% of THAAD interceptor stockpiles were utilized between February and July, matching internal US data.