The US Army has used much of its stockpile of highly accurate long-range missiles during its five-month war with Iran, according to three people familiar with the data.
Two sources said the US has used 'virtually all' of its Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM). Both systems serve as the US Army's surface-to-surface weapons.
The drawdown of the ATACMS and PrSM stockpiles reflected a decision by the Trump administration to avoid riskier methods of attacking Iranian targets, such as using piloted aircraft to drop bombs, according to one source.
The war began in February when President Donald Trump launched hostilities jointly with Israel.
Interceptors and cruise missile supplies
Military leaders have warned the president for weeks that stockpiles of defensive weapons, including Patriot interceptors, were dwindling, according to two sources.
A Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report estimated that approximately 65% of Patriot interceptors were expended between February and July. The report also estimated that the number of THAAD ballistic missile interceptors in US stockpiles was at least 38% lower than at the start of the war.
Estimated amount expended between February and July
One source said the US has used a little less than half of its global supply of Tomahawk cruise missiles since the start of the war. The Tomahawk is a US Navy weapon launched from destroyers, cruisers, and submarines.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has nearly used up the land-based missiles it had before the war began, but has been able to reload from US military supplies elsewhere in the world, according to a fourth person familiar with the matter.
Production and political response
President Donald Trump stated that the US has 'far more munitions than anyone in the world' and 'far more than we need.' He also said defense companies are making more munitions than ever before while expanding plants and equipment at record levels.
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said, 'America's military is the most powerful in the world and has everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the President's choosing.'
While analysts agree that certain munitions, including artillery shells and several types of missiles, are being produced at record levels, they caution that supplies might fall short of what is needed for a prolonged war.
A US official disputed accounts that Trump decided not to launch another massive offensive inside Iran due to military warnings, claiming he chose not to move forward because of pressure from Gulf states.
The Middle East conflict has sparked debate regarding President Donald Trump's authority to conduct hostilities against Iran without congressional authorization, as no request for a declaration of war or an authorization to use military force has been submitted to the US Congress.
Supply figures regarding missile stockpiles have circulated within the US federal government over the last week during tense conversations within the Trump administration.
Weaponry details and manufacturer status
The Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is a newer, more advanced generation that will replace the ATACMS, which has a shorter range. The US Army stated that ATACMS are being phased out and production is shifting to the PrSM missiles.
A CSIS report stated that ATACMS have been used to strike targets inside Iran. The report also noted that PrSM stockpiles were low to start with because it is a relatively new munition, though the US military has ordered a large number of them for 2027.
Analysts say ATACMS and PrSM cost over $1 million each.
Raytheon, a unit of RTX, has reached a tentative multi-year agreement with the Pentagon to boost Tomahawk production. Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of ATACMS, PrSM, and the THAAD anti-ballistic missile system, did not immediately respond to questions regarding Trump's statements or supply levels. Raytheon, the manufacturer of Tomahawk missiles and Patriot interceptors, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
