U.S. Burns Through 1,000 Tomahawks, Straining Indo-Pacific Readiness as Iran War Drains Interceptors
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Jul 23
U.S. Burns Through 1,000 Tomahawks, Straining Indo-Pacific Readiness as Iran War Drains Interceptors
2 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Jul 23
Summary
U.S. officials say missile and interceptor inventories are being depleted too quickly in the Iran campaign for industry to replenish, creating fresh concern about readiness for a possible Indo-Pacific conflict.
Patriot and THAAD interceptors are under the greatest pressure as U.S. forces defend Gulf bases and partners from Iranian drones and missiles, with some stocks shifted from Indo-Pacific prepositioned inventories.
Commanders have already moved toward JDAM-equipped bombs and Small Diameter Bombs while using JASSM and Tomahawk missiles more sparingly; Adm. Samuel Paparo said scaling production of those high-end weapons could take 1 to 2 years.
A CSIS estimate during the ceasefire pause put usage at more than 1,000 Tomahawks and 1,100 JASSMs, with replacement timelines nearing four years and some air-defense missiles taking up to five years.
The strain revives a broader Pentagon trade-off: weapons consumed in the Middle East are unavailable for deterring China around Taiwan, even as Pentagon leaders publicly insist U.S. stockpiles remain strong.
With its arsenal drained by Middle East conflicts, is America's ability to deter a major Indo-Pacific war disappearing?
As stockpiles dwindle, must the U.S. military radically reinvent its warfare strategy to remain a global power?
Can the U.S. win an economic war when its million-dollar missiles are used to destroy thousand-dollar drones?
U.S. Munitions Depletion in the 2026 Iran War: Strategic Risks, Industrial Challenges, and Global Fallout
Overview
In early 2026, the United States launched 'Operation Epic Fury' against Iran, leading to an intense 39-day air and missile campaign. During this conflict, U.S. forces used advanced munitions like Tomahawks and Patriots at an unprecedented rate, quickly raising concerns about military readiness and shrinking inventories. As the fighting continued, worries grew about whether the U.S. was nearing a critical shortage of ammunition. The rapid consumption of sophisticated weapons not only highlighted immediate vulnerabilities but also sparked urgent questions about the ability to sustain future conflicts and maintain global deterrence.