US burns through key China-war weapons in Iran – NYT
Photo: US has depleted key weapons in Iran (Getty Images)
Since the start of the war with Iran, the United States has used around 1,100 long-range cruise missiles originally designed for a conflict with China. These include Tomahawk missile systems, with more than a thousand launched — exceeding annual procurement levels, according to The New York Times.
Erosion of military capability
According to the report, the Pentagon has also used more than 1,200 Patriot missile system interceptors, each costing over $4 million, along with more than 1,000 ground-launched Precision Strike Missile and ATACMS systems.
The NYT notes that such large-scale use of munitions has sharply reduced stockpiles to “alarming” levels. This has forced the US to urgently redeploy weapons from bases in Europe and Asia to the Middle East, lowering readiness for potential threats from Russia and China.
Another issue involves high-precision JASSM-ER missiles: about 1,100 have been used, leaving roughly 1,500 in reserve.
US faces strategic choices
To restore global stockpile levels, the US will have to make difficult decisions about where to maintain military strength. At current production rates, replenishing spent munitions could take years, the NYT writes.
At the Center for Strategic and International Studies, remaining Tomahawk stockpiles are estimated at around 3,000 units. The total cost of the campaign is estimated by independent experts at $28–35 billion.
The intensity of combat has also been higher than official figures suggest: the reported 13,000 targets likely involved repeated strikes on the same sites.
Reduced training and force redeployments have further impacted combat readiness.
Forces redirected from Asia
Since then, two Marine expeditionary units, each with about 2,200 troops, have been deployed from the Pacific to the Middle East.
The Pentagon has also transferred advanced air defense systems from Asia to strengthen protection against Iranian drones and missiles.
Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, head of US Indo-Pacific Command, declined to comment on the redeployment of weapons, stating only that “stockpiles have limits.”
It was previously reported that the US has begun delaying arms deliveries to European allies due to the depletion of its reserves caused by the prolonged war with Iran.
There are also reports that the US may expand weapons production by involving civilian industry. The Pentagon is already in talks with major automakers and industrial companies.
