US missile defense stockpiles, heavily used in Middle East conflicts, have fallen to critical levels. According to Fox News, Pentagon planners are reviewing their capacity to sustain the pace of current operations.
Data compiled by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) revealed the extent of the decline in stockpiles. The number of Patriot interceptors, which stood at around 2,300 before the conflicts, dropped below 827. The number of interceptors for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system also fell from 452 to below 278.
CSIS stated that replenishing these critical reserves could take at least three years. According to Fox News, this raises concerns about the US's ability to protect its personnel and overseas installations in the event of a crisis in another region, such as the Pacific.
To address the stockpile shortfall, the Pentagon allocated $18.2 billion from its $67 billion emergency funding request for fiscal year 2026 for the procurement of Patriot missiles, Navy Tomahawk cruise missiles, and THAAD systems. In addition, in the military's preliminary budget request for 2027, cheaper munitions priced at $600,000 or less accounted for half of all weapons requested.