Washington, August 9, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The United States is facing a significant depletion of critical missile interceptors and other munitions after months of military operations against Iran, raising concerns over Washington’s ability to replenish its arsenal and maintain readiness for other potential threats.
Former US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said shortages of Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) interceptors had reached serious levels and warned that rebuilding the stockpiles would take considerable time.
“It is a serious situation that goes back to the end of the Cold War and decisions we made between then and now,” Esper told ABC News.
He said US weapons stocks had been further strained by military operations and the transfer of munitions to Ukraine. The situation had become particularly acute over the past six to seven months, leaving the US “considerably low” on Patriot and THAAD interceptors as well as certain ground-attack weapons.
Esper said his primary concern was China and the potential impact of depleted US stockpiles on America’s deterrence capabilities and defence industrial base.
The Pentagon is seeking an additional $67 billion in defence funding, partly to replenish depleted weapons stocks, NBC News reported.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said he would oppose additional funding while the Iran conflict continued, although he backed replenishing US arsenals after the war. He claimed that the US had used up almost all of its interceptors and a majority of its Tomahawk missiles.
Republican Senator Jim Banks defended President Donald Trump’s handling of the conflict, saying his legacy would largely depend on preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Banks also claimed that US military operations had destroyed 85 per cent of Iran’s ballistic missiles and damaged its defence industrial base.
Esper said the administration was urging defence companies to accelerate production but cautioned that replenishing the stockpile would not be immediate. He noted that some Patriot missiles can take about two years to manufacture.
Patriot and THAAD are among the US military’s key missile-defence systems. Patriot systems can engage aircraft, cruise missiles and certain ballistic missiles, while THAAD is designed to intercept ballistic missiles during the terminal phase of flight.
FOLLOW NOW
