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US missile stockpiles drop as Middle East, Europe conflicts escalate: Report

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The U.S. military faces a shortage of key air defense missiles as escalating conflicts in the Middle East and Europe strain existing stockpiles. Standard Missiles, commonly launched from ships, are critical interceptors that have become central in countering missile and drone threats against U.S. allies, particularly in defending Israeli territory from Iranian attacks and preventing Houthi strikes on Western vessels in the Red Sea.

The Pentagon has deployed over 100 of these interceptors in the region since Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, according to U.S. officials.

Concerns are growing about the Pentagon’s readiness to handle sustained or future conflicts. That includes potential tensions in the Pacific.

The heavy use of missile interceptors risks depleting the stockpile faster than replacement rates, defense analysts warn. With demand high, Pentagon officials worry that the U.S. defense industrial base (DIB) will struggle to meet the pace needed.

Officials warn the DIB isn’t structured for simultaneous, extended conflicts across multiple theaters.

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The Pentagon refrained from disclosing the exact number of air-defense missiles in its inventory. Officials said doing so could risk adversaries leveraging this information against the country. While the classification protects sensitive details, limitations on transparency raise questions about the U.S. military’s readiness for sustained conflicts.

In response to the increased demand, the Pentagon has reallocated resources. Officials have deployed additional systems like the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Patriot missile batteries to Israel and other key areas in the region. However, defense analysts warn that this reallocation could reduce resources available for operations in the Pacific, a region where tensions with China persist.

Efforts to increase the production of these interceptors are ongoing, but increasing manufacturing capacity is a lengthy process. Increasing output requires additional facilities, staff and sustained funding, a commitment not guaranteed without long-term Pentagon contracts.

Defense officials are exploring new technologies and partnerships to bolster production. However, the U.S. military’s readiness remains stretched amid simultaneous demands.

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[ryan robertson]

THE U.S. IS FACING A SHORTAGE OF SOME TYPES OF AIR-DEFENSE MISSILES — THAT’S ACCORDING TO BOTH THE WALL STREET JOURNAL–AND THE MANY MILITARY OFFICERS AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS I SPEAK WITH WHILE COVERING THIS BEAT TOO.

OVER THE LAST YEAR–MISSILE AND DRONE ATTACKS BY IRAN AND ITS ALLIES INCREASED, AND INTERCEPTORS LIKE STANDARD MISSILES—CRUCIAL FOR DEFENDING U.S. ALLIES SUCH AS ISRAEL—ARE RUNNING LOW — RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT MILITARY READINESS AMID SIMULTANEOUS CONFLICTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND EUROPE.

THE U.S. MILITARY RELIES ON SEVERAL TYPES OF SHIP-LAUNCHED STANDARD MISSILES TO INTERCEPT THREATS AIMED AT ISRAEL FROM IRAN AND COUNTER HOUTHI ATTACKS ON WESTERN SHIPS IN THE RED SEA. SINCE HAMAS’S OCTOBER 2023 ATTACK ON ISRAEL, THE U.S. DEPLOYED OVER 100 OF THESE INTERCEPTORS IN THE REGION.

AND WHILE THE WEAPONS ARE GREAT AT WHAT THEY DO–THE RELIANCE ON MULTIPLE INTERCEPTORS PER ATTACK FOR RELIABILITY IS STRAINING U.S. STOCKPILES AND BUDGETS.

THE PENTAGON, CITING CLASSIFIED SECURITY CONCERNS, DOES NOT DISCLOSE EXACT STOCKPILE LEVELS OF AIR-DEFENSE MISSILES,IT’S NOT THE KIND OF INFO YOU WANT YOUR ENEMIES KNOWING. BUT THIS LIMITED TRANSPARENCY MAKES IT HARD TO KNOW JUST HOW PREPARED THE U.S. TRULY IS TO RESPOND TO ONGOING AND FUTURE THREATS.

THE U-S DOESN’T RELY SOLELY ON STANDARD MISSILES OF COURSE. THE PENTAGON DEPLOYED ADDITIONAL LAND-BASED SYSTEMS TO THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING THAAD AND PATRIOT MISSILE BATTERIES

BUT ANALYSTS WARN THIS ONGOING DEMAND COULD LIMIT U.S. READINESS FOR PACIFIC OPERATIONS, A FACT CHINA KNOWS TOO.

EFFORTS TO INCREASE PRODUCTION ARE UNDERWAY, BUT EXPANDING MISSILE MANUFACTURING IS A LENGTHY PROCESS, REQUIRING MORE FACILITIES, STAFF, AND SUSTAINED INVESTMENT.

DEFENSE OFFICIALS AND INDUSTRY LEADERS ARE EXPLORING ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND ENGAGING NEW MANUFACTURERS. INCREASING PRODUCTION IS A CHALLENGE THOUGH…ONE YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ON OUR SHOW WEAPONS AND WARFARE. YOU CAN WATCH IT ON OUR WEBSITE, S-A-N DOT COM, ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL, OR STREAM IT WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS.