{"id":8045,"date":"2026-04-25T08:09:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T08:09:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsmakers.com.pk\/en\/?p=8045"},"modified":"2026-04-25T08:09:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T08:09:29","slug":"critical-us-weapons-stockpiles-depleted-during-iran-war-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsmakers.com.pk\/en\/international\/critical-us-weapons-stockpiles-depleted-during-iran-war-report\/8045\/","title":{"rendered":"Critical US Weapons Stockpiles Depleted During Iran War: Report"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Web Desk<\/strong>
April 25, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WASHINGTON<\/strong> \u2013 The ongoing war between the United States and Iran has begun taking a heavy toll on America’s defense and economic capabilities, with a new investigation revealing that the US has exhausted billions of dollars worth of critical weaponry and is spending nearly $1 billion per day on the conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a comprehensive report by The New York Times and analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the US military has consumed a staggering proportion of its most advanced and expensive munitions during the 56-day-old war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Alarming’ Depletion of Key Weapons Stockpiles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The investigation reveals that America’s arsenal of high-end weaponry has been dangerously drained:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weapon System<\/th>Quantity Used<\/th>Key Detail<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Patriot Interceptor Missiles<\/strong><\/td>Over 1,200<\/td>Each costs over $4 million; represents over 60% of inventory<\/td><\/tr>
JASSM-ER Stealth Cruise Missiles<\/strong><\/td>~1,100<\/td>Only 1,500 remain; originally built for war with China<\/td><\/tr>
Tomahawk Cruise Missiles<\/strong><\/td>Over 1,000<\/td>Roughly 10 times the annual production rate<\/td><\/tr>
THAAD Interceptors<\/strong><\/td>Up to 290 (~80%)<\/td>Replenishment expected to take 53 months<\/td><\/tr>
PrSM & ATACMS Missiles<\/strong><\/td>Over 1,000<\/td>Inventories left “worryingly low”<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mark F. Cancian, a retired Marine Corps colonel and senior adviser at CSIS, told the NYT: “The US has many munitions with adequate inventories, but some critical ground-attack and missile-defence munitions were short before the war and are even shorter now”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strategic Repercussions: America ‘Less Ready’ for China and Russia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The depletion has left the US military “less ready” to confront major adversaries like China and Russia, according to defense officials cited by the NYT. The report noted that the war has forced the Pentagon to divert or delay weapons deliveries to allies including Japan, Ukraine, and NATO members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A CSIS analyst warned that rebuilding US arsenals to pre-war levels could take one to four years, and recovering full readiness would take even longer. Some officials cited by the Wall Street Journal expressed concern that if China were to invade Taiwan, the US military might not be able to fully execute its contingency plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cost: Up to $35 Billion and Rising<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The financial toll of the war is equally alarming:<\/p>\n\n\n\n