US Ammunition Stocks Dwindle Amid Iran Conflict, Patriot Missiles in Short Supply
The United States is reportedly on the brink of a critical ammunition supply crisis after depleting a significant portion of its stockpile in the ongoing conflict with Iran. A senior defence analyst has warned that the intensity of weapons usage has exceeded current production capacity.
Mark Cancian, a retired Marine Corps colonel and defence analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), revealed that the US has used between a third and half of its primary ammunition. Thousands of missiles have been launched for long-range precision strikes and air defence since the initial phase of the conflict in Iran.
“We have used over a thousand Patriot missiles in this war. Our allies in the Gulf have also used many, while Ukraine continues to ask for more. There is enormous demand on production,” Cancian told CNN.
The Patriot system serves as the US Army’s primary air defence, comprising launchers, radar, and interceptor missiles. However, the Department of Defence notes that the system costs over US$1 billion and only 600 units can be produced annually. The high demand has resulted in an extremely long backlog of orders.
Cancian added that if a Patriot missile order were placed today, delivery would likely not be realised for another four to five years due to production chain limitations.
News of the dwindling ammunition stockpile emerged after President Donald Trump formally notified lawmakers that the US had re-engaged in warfare with Iran. In a letter to Congress on 10 July, Trump stated that the 7 July strikes were a military action consistent with his responsibility to protect American interests.
The US government currently has a 60-day window to use military force in the region without explicit congressional approval. The conflict has escalated amid disputes between the two nations over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy supplies.
On Monday, Trump increased military pressure by declaring that the US would reimpose a blockade and take control of the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the safe passage of ships.
US Central Command (Centcom) officials reported that American forces struck more than 300 Iranian military targets in the past week in retaliation for Tehran’s hostilities. The latest strikes on Monday targeted Iranian drone sites and coastal defence systems.
“These strikes will continue to have a severe impact on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” a Centcom statement asserted.
On the domestic front, Trump is reportedly furious over the failure of negotiators to reach a peace deal, while the Republican Party faces mounting political pressure due to soaring energy prices ahead of the midterm elections.