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The U.S. may have fired nearly half of its Patriot missile interceptors during the conflict with Iran, according to a new analysis, underscoring how even a campaign lasting several weeks could put a huge strain on key weapons stockpiles.
While the US still has enough firepower to sustain operations in the current war, analysts warn the biggest risk lies in a future conflict against a peer enemy.
A report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) found that US forces used large stocks of several key weapons during the 39-day air and missile campaign, including more than 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles and more than 1,000 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff missiles (JASSMs). Patriot interceptor use is estimated at between 1,060 and 1,430 missiles – more than half of the US’s pre-war inventory.
Specific US weapons stockpiles are disaggregated, and the figures in the report are estimates taken from Pentagon budget documents, historical procurement data and reported battlefield use.
The US may have fired nearly half of its Patriot missile interceptors during the conflict with Iran, according to a new analysis. (Sam Yeh/AFP)
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Some high-end systems are also being pulled down significantly.
The US is estimated to use between 190 and 290 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense interceptors, costing about $15.5 million each, and between 130 and 250 SM-3 interceptors, among the most expensive weapons in the area costing about $28.7 million each.
The Navy’s SM-6 missile, which costs about $5.3 million per unit, was also widely used, with estimates ranging from 190 to 370 being fired.
Long-range strike weapons used in conflict carry similarly high price tags.
Tomahawk land attack missiles cost about $2.6 million each, while JASSMs cost about $2.6 million per missile. The Army’s new Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), which costs about $1.6 million per unit, has also been used in small numbers, estimated at 40 to 70.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell denied reports of a shortage of supplies.
“The United States military is the most powerful in the world and has everything it needs to do it at the time and place chosen by the President,” he said in a statement.
“As Secretary Hegseth has highlighted many times, it took less than ten percent of the American military power to control the flow in and out of the Strait of Hormuz. Since President Trump took office, we have carried out many successful operations in all military commands while ensuring that the US military has the deep capacity to protect our people and our interests. You are not honorable.”
A Navy official added to Fox News Digital: “The Navy is taking serious steps to expand our arsenal and strengthen the industrial base; as reflected in our FY27 budget request of $22.6 billion, which will fund more than 4,600 rounds in total.”
“We are significantly increasing the production of our most critical systems, including the Standard Missile, Tomahawk, AMRAAM, and PAC-3. To support this operation and provide a stable demand signal to our industry partners, we are continuing the multi-year procurement of LRASM and NSM, while initiating new multi-year contracts for Tomahawk and Standard Missiles through Standard Missiles and the Standard Missile Council. across the business to break down barriers and accelerate productivity.”
The Pentagon’s latest budget request underscores the urgency: The administration is seeking nearly $70 billion in fiscal year 2027 — a three-fold increase from current levels — as it moves to fill peaks plagued by recent conflicts, including Iran and Ukraine. The request includes a sharp increase in purchases of key military systems, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, Patriot and THAAD interceptors, and long-range strike weapons.
Iran maintains thousands of missiles and drones, according to Defense Intelligence Agency director Lt. Gen. James Adams.
“Despite the massive destruction of Iran’s military capabilities as a result of the coalition’s active strikes, Tehran has maintained thousands of ballistic missiles and a single UAV attack capable of threatening US forces and allies across the region,” he told the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday.
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Despite the huge cost, the US maintains enough weapons to continue operating in the current conflict. The report notes that after the heavy use of long-range missiles in the first phase of the campaign, US forces have switched to less expensive and smaller weapons, including Joint Direct Attack Munitions and other short-range systems.
The worry, analysts say, is what’s next.
Even before the Iran war, the US’s arsenal of precision-guided munitions was considered insufficient for a major conflict with a peer adversary like China. Recent downgrades have made that gap even more critical. A future war in the Western Pacific may require the continued use of the same advanced missiles now phased out, especially for long-range strike and missile defense against a sophisticated enemy.
Rebuilding those assets will take years. According to a CSIS analysis, delivery times for most of these projects range from three to five years, including contract delays, manufacturing lead times and manufacturing capacity limitations.
The US is estimated to use between 190 and 290 THAAD interceptors, costing about $15.5 million each, and between 130 and 250 SM-3 interceptors, among the most expensive in the arsenal at about $28.7 million each. (Staff Sgt. Cory D. Payne/US Air Force/AP)
That delay comes as global demand for similar programs continues to rise. Patriot interceptors, for example, are in high demand among US allies, including Ukraine, which relies heavily on them for air defense. Some partners in Europe and Asia are also looking to increase their own stocks, creating competition for limited production capacity.
The Trump administration is moving to rapidly increase production of key weapons, and defense contractors are planning a major increase in output. Lockheed Martin, for example, aims to increase Patriot interceptor production from about 600 a year to about 2,000 by the end of the decade, while also expanding THAAD interceptor capacity from less than 100 a year to several hundred. RTX said it will increase Tomahawk production to more than 1,000 missiles a year, a significant jump from recent levels.
But that increase will take time. In its latest budget request for the fiscal year 2027, the Pentagon wants to increase the purchase of weapons, however analysts warn that even with additional money and production gains planned, the defense industrial base cannot accelerate the used weapons.
Photo shows a Lockheed Martin JASSM cruise with a C-130. A report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) found that US forces used large stocks of several key weapons during the 39-day air and missile campaign, including more than 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles and more than 1,000 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff missiles (JASSMs). (Richard Baker / Photos via Getty Images)
Pentagon officials had raised concerns about US weapons stockpiles after years of military support for Ukraine. In 2025, the Pentagon halted the delivery of some anti-aircraft missiles and other weapons to Kyiv following an internal review that found some inventories had fallen significantly.
This type is already affecting US allies in Europe. US officials have warned that some weapons previously delivered to European countries – including the Baltic region – could be delayed as the Iran war drags down US stocks.
The leaders of Estonia and Lithuania said they had been informed that delivery schedules for US military equipment were changing, and that some ammunition was “on hold” as Washington dealt with supply issues.
One European defense official told Fox News Digital that the delay could have long-term consequences, warning that allies may start “rethinking” future US arms purchases if delivery times are unreliable.
Productivity constraints are not new. The US has faced a backlog of more than $20 billion in approved arms sales to Taiwan, with delivery times for some major programs slipping by years due in part to limited industrial capacity.
During the conflict, the Pentagon moved parts of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system from South Korea to the Middle East to bolster defenses against Iranian missile attacks, according to multiple reports. The redeployment highlights the trade-offs facing US planners as they shift high-end air defense assets between states.
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The result is a growing challenge for US defense planners: sustaining current conflicts while preparing for a potential war.
Fox News has reached out to the Pentagon and relevant service branches for comment.
