Iran War Depletes Large Missile Stockpiles, Posing Risks for US in Other Conflicts
The U.S. military has significantly depleted its inventory of key missiles during the war with Iran, according to experts and sources familiar with the Pentagon's stockpiles. This could pose a short-term risk of ammunition shortages if another conflict arises in the coming years, as replenishment is expected to take three to five years.
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- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 12:20
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Atlanta, 21st (Comprehensive Foreign Report) — CNN reported today, citing experts and three sources familiar with the war department's inventory, that the U.S. military has heavily depleted key missiles during the war with Iran, potentially facing a short-term risk of ammunition shortages if a war breaks out in the coming years.
CNN reported that a new analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) indicates that in the past seven weeks of war, the U.S. military has used at least 45% of its Precision Strike Missile inventory, at least half of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missiles, and nearly 50% of its Patriot air defense interceptor missiles.
Sources familiar with the assessment noted that these figures are highly consistent with the Pentagon's classified inventory data.
CSIS experts and related sources stated that although the Pentagon signed several contracts earlier this year to expand missile production capacity, even with increased capacity, replenishing these systems will take at least three to five years.
In the short term, regardless of whether a ceasefire agreement holds, the U.S. largely has enough bombs and missiles to sustain operations against Iran. However, the CSIS analysis points out that the current U.S. inventory of key munitions is insufficient to handle a 'near-peer' adversary like China, and it could take years to restore stockpiles to pre-war levels.
Mark Cancian, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel and one of the authors of the CSIS report, said in an interview: 'The high rate of ammunition consumption creates a window of vulnerability in the Western Pacific. It will take about one to four years to replenish these stockpiles, and then several more years to expand them to the desired level.'
Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell emphasized in a statement to CNN that the military 'has everything it needs to execute its assigned missions at a time and place of the President's choosing.'
He stated: 'Since Trump took office, we have executed numerous successful missions across various joint combatant commands, ensuring that the U.S. military has a strong weapons inventory to protect our people and interests.'
Additionally, according to the analysis and sources, the U.S. military has expended about 30% of its Tomahawk cruise missiles, over 20% of its Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM), and about 20% of its SM-3 and SM-6 Standard Missiles. Replenishing these systems could take four to five years.
These missile depletion figures stand in stark contrast to President Trump's recent claims of 'abundant weapons,' even as he requested additional missile funding due to the impact of the Iran war on stockpiles.
Last month, Trump stated: 'We have many reasons for the supplemental budget request, far beyond the Iran issue. We still have plenty of high-end items, but we are also working to maintain our stockpiles.'
He added, 'This is a small price to pay to maintain America's leading position.'
The CSIS report also noted that while the Trump administration's recent contracts with private companies will increase production capacity, the delivery of these critical munitions will remain relatively low in the short term due to limited past orders.
CNN previously reported that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine and other military leaders had warned before the Iran war that a prolonged military operation would impact U.S. weapon stockpiles, especially the ammunition needed to support Israel and Ukraine.
Since the U.S.-Iran conflict began, Democratic members of Congress have continued to express concern about ammunition consumption and its impact on defense in the Middle East and globally.
Democratic Senator Mark Kelly said last month: 'Iran does have the ability to mass-produce Shahed drones, various types of ballistic missiles, and medium- and short-range missiles, and their stockpiles are considerable. So at some point... this becomes a math problem. How do we replenish our air defenses? Where are these missiles going to come from?' (Translation: Qu Xiangping) 1150422
CNN reported that a new analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) indicates that in the past seven weeks of war, the U.S. military has used at least 45% of its Precision Strike Missile inventory, at least half of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missiles, and nearly 50% of its Patriot air defense interceptor missiles.
Sources familiar with the assessment noted that these figures are highly consistent with the Pentagon's classified inventory data.
CSIS experts and related sources stated that although the Pentagon signed several contracts earlier this year to expand missile production capacity, even with increased capacity, replenishing these systems will take at least three to five years.
In the short term, regardless of whether a ceasefire agreement holds, the U.S. largely has enough bombs and missiles to sustain operations against Iran. However, the CSIS analysis points out that the current U.S. inventory of key munitions is insufficient to handle a 'near-peer' adversary like China, and it could take years to restore stockpiles to pre-war levels.
Mark Cancian, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel and one of the authors of the CSIS report, said in an interview: 'The high rate of ammunition consumption creates a window of vulnerability in the Western Pacific. It will take about one to four years to replenish these stockpiles, and then several more years to expand them to the desired level.'
Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell emphasized in a statement to CNN that the military 'has everything it needs to execute its assigned missions at a time and place of the President's choosing.'
He stated: 'Since Trump took office, we have executed numerous successful missions across various joint combatant commands, ensuring that the U.S. military has a strong weapons inventory to protect our people and interests.'
Additionally, according to the analysis and sources, the U.S. military has expended about 30% of its Tomahawk cruise missiles, over 20% of its Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM), and about 20% of its SM-3 and SM-6 Standard Missiles. Replenishing these systems could take four to five years.
These missile depletion figures stand in stark contrast to President Trump's recent claims of 'abundant weapons,' even as he requested additional missile funding due to the impact of the Iran war on stockpiles.
Last month, Trump stated: 'We have many reasons for the supplemental budget request, far beyond the Iran issue. We still have plenty of high-end items, but we are also working to maintain our stockpiles.'
He added, 'This is a small price to pay to maintain America's leading position.'
The CSIS report also noted that while the Trump administration's recent contracts with private companies will increase production capacity, the delivery of these critical munitions will remain relatively low in the short term due to limited past orders.
CNN previously reported that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine and other military leaders had warned before the Iran war that a prolonged military operation would impact U.S. weapon stockpiles, especially the ammunition needed to support Israel and Ukraine.
Since the U.S.-Iran conflict began, Democratic members of Congress have continued to express concern about ammunition consumption and its impact on defense in the Middle East and globally.
Democratic Senator Mark Kelly said last month: 'Iran does have the ability to mass-produce Shahed drones, various types of ballistic missiles, and medium- and short-range missiles, and their stockpiles are considerable. So at some point... this becomes a math problem. How do we replenish our air defenses? Where are these missiles going to come from?' (Translation: Qu Xiangping) 1150422