US Missile Stocks Depleted After Iran War

• By Thetripurapost Weeb Desk, Teheran
• Apr 24, 2026
• 397

The United States is facing growing concerns over its weapons stockpile after expending a significant number of advanced and costly missiles during a 38-day conflict with Iran. Many of these weapons were originally reserved for potential high-intensity conflicts with major powers such as China, raising questions about long-term military readiness.

During the war, the US reportedly used around 1,100 long-range stealth JASSM-ER missiles, along with over 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles and more than 1,200 Patriot interceptor missiles. In addition, large numbers of Precision Strike and ATACMS missiles were deployed. The total cost of the conflict is estimated between $28 billion and $35 billion, averaging roughly $1 billion per day.

Although fighting ended two weeks ago, the Pentagon has not released full details of weapons usage. Officials confirmed that over 13,000 targets were hit, but noted that many were struck multiple times, suggesting total missile usage may be even higher.

The JASSM-ER, capable of striking targets over 600 miles away while evading air defenses, was among the most heavily used systems. Tomahawk missiles also played a major role, with reports indicating that the US may now have only about 3,000 remaining. Patriot missiles, each costing around $4 million, have also seen rapid depletion, with usage far exceeding recent production levels.

The scale of consumption has forced the US to redirect military assets from Asia and Europe to the Middle East, impacting readiness in those regions. Naval and air units, including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group, have been repositioned, while missile defense systems such as THAAD have also been redeployed.

Despite these concerns, the White House has denied any critical shortage. Press Secretary Carolyn Leavitt stated that the US maintains the strongest military in the world and has sufficient resources. Pentagon officials have also declined to disclose specific stockpile details, citing security reasons.

Replenishing these weapons now poses a major challenge. Lawmakers and defense experts warn that restoring stockpiles could take years, especially as production delays persist due to funding and industrial constraints.