Key facts
- Reported depletion
- US used 'virtually all' ATACMS and PrSM missiles in Iran war
- Source
- Reuters, citing sources familiar with the matter
- PrSM orders
- 130 before fiscal 2024, 250 in 2025
- CSIS assessment
- 45% of PrSM, nearly 50% of Patriot interceptors, over half of THAAD expended in first seven weeks
- US official admission
- A PrSM-equipped unit exhausted its entire inventory early in conflict
- US denial
- President Trump says US has 'far more munitions than anyone in the world'
Background
The US military has effectively run out of high-precision land-based tactical missiles due to its campaign against Iran, Reuters has reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Multiple media reports and independent assessments have signaled shortages of critical sophisticated munitions in the US inventory since a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report published in April. Apart from draining the Pentagon's attack capabilities, the conflict is believed to have put a major dent in the US stock of anti-aircraft missiles.
The country's leadership has repeatedly denied such assertions, insisting it still has plenty of munitions.
Current situation
According to Reuters sources, the Iran conflict has depleted the US Army's stock of surface-to-surface missiles, namely Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), with two sources telling the agency the military has used 'virtually all' of those weapons.
While the degree to which the US military exhausted its stock of ATACMS was not previously known, the apparent exhaustion of the PrSM stock has been repeatedly reported since mid-April. The munition, slated to replace the aging ATACMS, was not plentiful to begin with - the Pentagon had ordered 130 before the 2024 fiscal year and a further 250 in 2025, and it was not immediately clear how many units had actually been delivered.
The new missiles ended up being used against Iran without undergoing a proper testing cycle.
| Munition | Percentage expended |
|---|---|
| PrSM | at least 45% |
| Patriot interceptors | nearly 50% |
| THAAD anti-ballistic missiles | over half |
Impacts
In mid-April, a US Army official admitted that a unit equipped with PrSM exhausted its entire inventory early in the conflict. Later that month, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) released an analysis concluding that the US military had dangerously depleted its stockpiles of critical munitions in the war on Iran.
Namely, in the first seven weeks the Pentagon expended at least 45% of its PrSM stock, nearly 50% of its Patriot interceptors, and over half of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missiles, according to the assessment.
Late last month, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal reported that US President Donald Trump had opted to shelve a new major attack on Iran because of the dwindling supply of air defense missiles. The US leader dismissed those claims however, insisting the US has 'far more munitions than anyone in the world and far more than we need.'
Future outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
If the reported depletion is accurate, the US military may face constraints in conducting further large-scale strikes against Iran, potentially limiting its options in the ongoing conflict.
Should the Pentagon accelerate production or deliveries of PrSM and other munitions, it could replenish stocks over time, but the timeline remains unclear given the lack of confirmed delivery numbers.
Alternatively, if the US leadership continues to deny shortages, the gap between official statements and reported realities could affect strategic planning and international perceptions of US military readiness.
Source: pakistantelegraph.com
