The ongoing military operation against Iran has reportedly led to significant depletion of the United States Army’s stockpile of long-range precision missiles. A report from Reuters indicates that this drawdown has raised alarms within both the Trump administration and the Pentagon regarding the military’s readiness for future confrontations, particularly with adversaries such as China and Russia. The Army has allegedly utilized nearly all of its surface-to-surface Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), critical components of the country’s long-range capabilities.

Although the exact quantity of remaining missiles is unclear, it is suggested that the inventory has sharply diminished as the conflict has persisted longer than initial projections. President Donald Trump initiated the military campaign against Iran in collaboration with Israel in February, expecting a brief intervention. However, five months into the conflict, the extended duration has noticeably strained the missile reserves of the US forces.

Operational Dependence on Long-Range Weapons

ATACMS and the more modern PrSM are designed to engage targets from considerable distances with high precision, minimising risk to ground personnel. These weapon systems have also proven pivotal in assisting Ukraine’s military efforts, enabling strikes on military installations deep within Russian territory. Military analysts assert that such long-range capabilities would be vital in any prospective conflict with China given their sophisticated air defence mechanisms.

The Pentagon has begun transitioning from ATACMS to the more advanced PrSM, yet production rates for the latter have not yet fully caught up with demand, leaving the current inventory limited. Reports suggest that the extensive use of these systems is aligned with a strategic decision by the Trump administration to mitigate reliance on crewed aircraft for operations over Iranian territory.

Internal deliberations within the Trump administration have reportedly focused on whether the US can sustain operations in Iran without depleting its missile stockpiles to levels that could impair readiness for other global crises. US Central Command has reportedly nearly depleted its land-based missile allocative resources ahead of the Iran campaign but has replenished these by drawing from other caches worldwide.

Broader Implications for Military Readiness

Amid these concerns, the White House has dismissed any implications that the military is on the brink of a shortage. A statement from Trump asserted that American defence manufacturers are currently producing munitions at unprecedented levels and enhancing their facilities significantly. He emphasised that the US still possesses far more munitions than any other nation.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell has also downplayed the issue, asserting that the military retains the necessary resources to act decisively at the President’s discretion while maintaining a robust arsenal to safeguard US interests.

Concerns regarding stockpiles extend to defensive capabilities as well. According to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), approximately sixty-five per cent of Patriot missile interceptors have been deployed between February and July, and THAAD interceptor inventories have experienced a decline of at least thirty-eight per cent during the same timeframe. Sources familiar with the situation indicated that such figures align closely with internal US government assessments.

The usage of nearly half of the US’s global inventory of Tomahawk cruise missiles since the conflict’s onset has also been reported, although independent verification of that data remains unavailable. These systems form the backbone of the country’s missile defence architecture, while Tomahawk missiles are central to naval precision strike capabilities against well-defended targets.

Production by defence contractors remains at peak levels, yet experts caution that replenishing stockpiles will take considerable time. Lockheed Martin, the main manufacturer of ATACMS, PrSM, and THAAD systems, did not respond to requests for information regarding current stock levels. Meanwhile, Raytheon, which produces Tomahawk and Patriot missiles, also declined to comment immediately. Analysts warn that while production is at a record high, it may still fall short of meeting the demands of a prolonged high-intensity conflict.

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