DID Press: US missile interceptor stockpiles have fallen sharply after months of conflict with the Islamic Republic of Iran, raising concerns about Washington’s ability to sustain future military operations, according to a new report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The Washington-based think tank said the US Department of Defense is facing what it described as a “growing reality” of rapidly depleting missile defense interceptor inventories following months of military engagement.
According to Fox News, the report says US military planners are now assessing whether the current cycle of limited retaliatory strikes can be sustained, warning that continued operations are placing significant pressure on the country’s air and missile defense capabilities.
CSIS estimates that the US inventory of Patriot interceptor missiles has fallen from about 2,300 before the conflict to fewer than 827, while the number of THAAD interceptors has reportedly declined from 452 to fewer than 278.
The report warns that rebuilding these stockpiles could take three years or longer, potentially affecting the protection of US forces and military installations worldwide, particularly in the event of another major conflict in the Indo-Pacific.