CSIS Estimated the Decline in U.S. Missile Stockpiles During a War with Iran
The United States has suspended strikes against Iran for the duration of the negotiations, while analysts warn of a decline in U.S. missile stockpiles after nearly 40 days of intense combat operations. According to estimates by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the U.S. has used more than 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles, and stocks of these munitions may not return to pre-war levels until 2031 at the earliest, BBC News reports.
According to the White House, before the ceasefire took effect on April 8, U.S. forces struck more than 13,000 targets in Iran and intercepted more than 1,700 Iranian drones and ballistic missiles. The U.S. government estimates the total cost of the war at $37.5 billion, with the majority of that amount going toward ammunition.
Exact data on missile expenditures and remaining stockpiles are classified. At the same time, CSIS estimates that the U.S. may have deployed up to 1,430 Patriot interceptor missiles from a pre-war stockpile of approximately 2,330 units. The cost of a single interceptor is estimated at approximately $4 million. Additionally, according to the center’s estimate, between 190 and 290 THAAD interceptors were launched from an initial stockpile of about 360. There are nine THAAD batteries in operation worldwide, seven of which belong to the U.S.
For more breaking news, follow the UA.News Telegram channel.
CSIS Senior Advisor Mark Kancian stated that the production of a single missile can take anywhere from one to five years, and additional funding will not yield quick results. According to him, the missiles currently being delivered were funded back in 2023. Pentagon Chief Pete Hagseth told the Senate Appropriations Committee last week that the department needs an additional $87 billion to address critical shortages, particularly in equipment.
U.S. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, denied there was an ammunition shortage, telling the Wall Street Journal that the United States has far more weapons than it needs. The White House also told BBC News that the U.S. military has sufficient ammunition and supplies to meet the president’s strategic objectives.
The issue of missile stockpiles also pertains to supplies to Ukraine, which is resisting Russian aggression. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told BBC News in March that the war with Iran is affecting U.S. reserves and the capacity of air defense system manufacturers. He noted that the United States produces approximately 60–65 missiles per month, whereas 803 missiles were used on the first day of Operation Epic Fury.
