US warns allies of missile and key weapons delivery delays of up to 5 years
Photo: Tomahawk missile (Getty Images)
The US has warned allies that deliveries of key types of weapons could be delayed for up to five years due to missile shortages and the need to replenish its own stocks after the war with Iran, reports Bloomberg.
According to US officials, several European countries are already expecting the delivery timelines for missile systems and air defense equipment to be pushed back.
Germany has asked Washington to expedite the delivery of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles and Typhon ground-based launchers.
However, because US stocks are depleted, Tomahawk manufacturer Raytheon is unlikely to fulfill this order within the next five years.
Two other US officials told Bloomberg that some Eastern European countries that depend on US weapons systems have also faced delivery delays.
How this affects Ukraine
The problem with US stocks directly affects Ukraine as well, as Kyiv is asking the US to provide additional interceptor missiles for Patriot systems ahead of winter.
The Pentagon's decision to prioritize replenishing its own stocks makes it more difficult to quickly increase Patriot deliveries to Ukraine.
The issue of strengthening Ukraine's air defense is expected to be one of the topics of European leaders' talks with US President Donald Trump during meetings in New York next week.
Trump previously said that the US was discussing two options with Ukraine: providing Kyiv with a less advanced version of the Patriot or allowing European countries to produce these systems under US licenses.
How many missiles the US used
According to estimates, during the war with Iran, the US used more than half of its most advanced Patriot interceptor missiles, about one-third of its Tomahawk stocks, and nearly half of its high-precision strike missiles and THAAD interceptors.
The US Congressional Budget Office estimates that since June 2025, the US military may have used up to two-thirds of its stockpile of missile defense interceptors.
The Pentagon acknowledged that the large-scale use of munitions led to a strategic shortage of stocks and exposed problems with production capacity.
US officials are currently working to build up stocks of critical components and munitions, as well as reduce their production timelines.
Defense companies are increasing production. Lockheed Martin plans to increase its annual output of the most advanced PAC-3 MSE missiles for Patriot from approximately 600 to 2,000 units.
Earlier, the US permanent representative to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, named the main reason for the delay in Patriot missiles for Ukraine.
Read what is known about the new PAC-3 ACE missiles for Patriot and whether Ukraine will receive them.
