US munitions stockpiles significantly depleted after 38-day campaign against Iran, raising concerns about readiness in other theatres
Introduction
The United States military has expended substantial quantities of advanced munitions during its 38-day campaign against Iran, which commenced on February 28 and was followed by a ceasefire. Internal Pentagon estimates and congressional sources indicate that inventories of several critical missile systems have been reduced to levels that may affect the military''s ability to respond to potential conflicts in other regions, particularly the Indo-Pacific.
Main Body
According to internal Defense Department estimates and congressional officials cited in multiple reports, the US used approximately 1,100 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSM-ER) stealth cruise missiles, each costing roughly $1.1 million, leaving an estimated 1,500 remaining. More than 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles, priced at about $3.6 million each, were also fired—approximately ten times the annual procurement rate. The Pentagon deployed over 1,200 Patriot interceptor missiles, each exceeding $4 million, and more than 1,000 Precision Strike and ATACMS ground-based missiles. A study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimated that the Tomahawk stockpile now stands at around 3,000 missiles, a level considered insufficient for a major conflict in the Western Pacific. The strain on air-defence systems is particularly acute: the US produced roughly 600 Patriot interceptors in all of 2025, yet used more than double that number in the campaign. The overall financial cost of the conflict has been estimated by two independent groups—the American Enterprise Institute and CSIS—at between $28 billion and $35 billion, with $5.6 billion consumed in the first 48 hours alone. The depletion of munitions has forced the Pentagon to redirect weapons and personnel from other regional commands. In Europe, the loss of surveillance and attack drones has been described as a serious problem, affecting NATO''s eastern flank and the ability to deter Russian aggression. In Asia, the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group was redeployed from the South China Sea to the Middle East before the conflict began, and two Marine Expeditionary Units totaling approximately 4,400 personnel were moved from the Pacific. For the first time, interceptor missiles from the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system stationed in South Korea—originally deployed to counter North Korean missile threats—have been redirected to the Middle East. Admiral Samuel Paparo, head of US Indo-Pacific Command, acknowledged during a Senate hearing that “there are finite limits to the magazine” but stated that ongoing operations have not imposed a real cost on deterrence against China. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected claims of shortfalls, stating that “the entire premise of this story is false” and that the US military remains “fully loaded with more than enough weapons and munitions.” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell declined to comment on specific theatre requirements, citing operational security. However, analysts and some lawmakers have expressed concern about the time required to reconstitute stockpiles. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) noted that “at current production rates, reconstituting what we have expended could take years.” Retired Marine Corps Colonel Mark Cancian of CSIS observed that “some critical ground-attack and missile-defence munitions were short before the war and are even shorter now.” A CSIS report warned that high expenditure rates have created “a window of increased vulnerability in the western Pacific.” The Pentagon has not yet begun expanded production, despite having secured seven-year agreements in January with major defence contractors such as Lockheed Martin to quadruple output of precision-guided munitions and THAAD interceptors. Officials stated that no expanded production has commenced because the funding—reportedly a $200 billion supplemental appropriations request—is still awaiting congressional approval. Separately, the conflict has also incurred unexpected costs from destroyed aircraft, including two MC-130 cargo planes and three MH-6 helicopters, estimated at about $275 million. Broader economic effects include a rapid increase in US gasoline prices as the conflict threatened the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world''s daily oil supply passes.
Conclusion
The US military campaign against Iran has resulted in a significant drawdown of advanced munitions, particularly long-range strike missiles and air-defence interceptors. While the White House maintains that stockpiles remain sufficient for all operational requirements, independent analysts and internal estimates indicate that rebuilding inventories to pre-war levels could take years, potentially creating a period of reduced readiness in other strategic theatres, especially the Indo-Pacific. The Pentagon is awaiting congressional funding to initiate expanded production, and the duration of any future conflict or renewed operations against Iran would further affect the balance between immediate needs and long-term deterrence.