The US military used nearly half of its stockpile of Patriot interceptor missiles during its seven-week campaign against Iran, according to an analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
A report from a Washington-based media outlet The Hill highlighted significant depletion of several key munitions, citing CSIS analysis, and expressed concerns about Washington’s preparedness for potential conflict with China.
According to the CSIS study released Tuesday, US forces fired nearly 50% of their Patriot missiles during the operation. More than half of the High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors were also used, alongside more than 45 percent of the Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), during the Iranian air and missile campaign.
The analysis further revealed that more than 20 percent of Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles (JASSMs), more than 30 percent of SM-3 interceptors, and at least 10 percent of SM-6 missiles were expended in Operation Epic Fury.
CSIS has warned that rebuilding stockpiles – including Tomahawk cruise missiles and JASSMs – to pre-operation levels could take between one and four years. These weapons, he emphasizes, would be vital in any future conflict in the Western Pacific.
“Even before the war in Iran, stocks were considered insufficient to fight a competitor. This deficit is today even more acute and it will take longer to build up stocks to adequate levels for a war with China,” write the authors of the report.
Although the United States is likely to retain enough munitions to continue its operations against Iran, the remaining stockpile would not be sufficient in the event of a confrontation with a major adversary such as China, the report added.
Amid these concerns, US Central Command (Centcom), which led the campaign against Iran, said its forces were actively rebuilding their capabilities during the ceasefire. In a social media post, CENTCOM said its “forces remain ready.”
Speaking alongside US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Centcom Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said: “We are rearming. We are re-equipping and adjusting our tactics, our techniques and our procedures.”
“There is no army in the world that adapts like us, and that is exactly what we are doing now during the ceasefire,” he added.
The findings come as President Donald Trump held talks with major defense contractors in March, following which he said production of “exquisite class” weapons would increase fourfold.
In response to the report, Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell defended military capabilities, telling The Hill that the United States remained fully equipped.
“The United States military is the most powerful in the world and has everything it needs to execute missions whenever and wherever the president chooses,” he said.
“As secretary [Pete] As Hegseth repeatedly pointed out, it took less than 10 percent of U.S. naval power to control traffic in and out of the Strait of Hormuz. “Since President Trump took office, we have successfully conducted numerous operations across combatant commands while ensuring that the U.S. military has a broad arsenal of capabilities to protect our people and interests,” Parnell said in a statement. “Attempts to alarm Americans about the Department’s munitions stockpiles are both ill-informed and dishonorable.”
Meanwhile, Pentagon Comptroller Jules “Jay” Hurst said officials planned to extend multi-year munitions contracts for up to seven years, aiming to strengthen supply chains and encourage sustained investment. This decision is part of the administration’s proposed defense budget of $1.5 trillion.
“Once Operation Epic Fury is complete, naval assets sent to the Middle East will return to the Pacific. Munitions stockpiles will begin to replenish, but restoring depleted stocks and reaching desired stockpile levels will take many years,” wrote the report’s authors, Mark F. Cancian and Chris H. Park.
