US forces launched 60 to 70 Patriot interceptors during Iran’s attack in Jordan, which involved about 20 ballistic missiles. More than 12 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors were also used in the air defense operation.
This figure was roughly equivalent to the number of interceptors US forces used over a week during some periods of the conflict. Iran’s use of warheads designed to separate into multiple munitions as they approached their targets made interception efforts more difficult.
Aircraft hit at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base
Air defense systems did not stop all the threats in the attack. Fighter jets and other aircraft at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base were hit during Iran’s attack, while no US personnel were killed in the latest strike.
The use of different missile types, flight paths, maneuvers and warheads made Iran’s attempts to penetrate US defenses more complex.
US interceptor use rose through mid-July
US forces used approximately 1,700 Patriot and more than 200 THAAD interceptors during the conflict through mid-July. US Navy ships also launched approximately 150 Standard Missile interceptors against Iranian missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Lockheed Martin, which manufactures Patriot interceptors, produced 620 interceptors in 2025 and aims to raise annual production to about 2,000. US officials expressed concern that sending large quantities of munitions to the Middle East could affect the capacity to respond to potential threats in other regions, including Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
Pentagon rejects assessment that munitions were depleted
While US Central Command did not comment on the matter, the Pentagon rejected assessments that American munitions had been depleted. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said reports that US munitions had run out were completely false and that the US military was capable of responding to threats.
US President Donald Trump also said that his country had a large stockpile of interceptor missiles and that production was being increased. However, a report released this week by the inspector general of the Department of Defense said the conflict had caused strategic stockpile shortfalls and capacity bottlenecks in the defense industry’s ability to replenish munitions.
Potential effects on Gulf states and Ukraine
Following months of Iranian missile and unmanned aerial vehicle attacks, pressure on interceptor missile stockpiles has prompted Gulf states to seek additional air defense munitions. The same situation has also affected the availability of systems that could be used in Ukraine’s defense against Russian attacks.
US Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper said in a separate statement that he was not concerned about a shortage of interceptor missiles and that US forces were prepared for any situation.
