US Used Over 1,500 Patriot Missiles in Iran War, Leaving Fewer Than 1,700 in Stock

To defend against Iran's retaliatory strikes, the United States has depleted its air defense missile inventory, delaying deliveries to European and Asian customers. The Pentagon has shifted ships, aircraft and air defense units from across Europe and Asia to the Middle East, a move with ripple effects on equipment maintenance and troop morale.

At a meeting before the Iran war, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned the president of the risks of further drawing down already heavily depleted weapons reserves, but the president decided to proceed. After the joint US-Israel strike on Iran on February 28, the president repeatedly promised victory within weeks; more than five months on, the war is still not over. Missile shortages contributed to the president shelving a large bombing operation late last month. US inventory of the missile now stands at fewer than 1,700.

The impact of ammunition shortages is directly visible in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this week that air defense missile supplies from Western allies in 2026 have fallen to one-third of 2025 levels. On Wednesday, Ukraine failed to intercept any of the 28 missiles Russia launched, leaving at least 17 people dead. Zelensky said those lives could have been saved with more interceptors. Analysts say the root problem is that Russia's missile production growth has outpaced the West's ability to manufacture air defense weapons, an imbalance worsened by the Iran war.

The United States and its allies have begun stockpiling air defense missiles. Last Thursday in the Oval Office, when asked about Zelensky's request for more missiles, the president replied: "We need missiles too." Amid the global supply squeeze, US defense procurement is seen as unable to keep pace with the rapidly evolving nature of war. A US defense intelligence official said Russia and China are both closely tracking US inventory, estimating it through public channels such as congressional budget processes and defense contractor announcements, as well as spy satellites and other surveillance systems.

The US Indo-Pacific Command has become the main ammunition depot for the Iran war, with many Tomahawk cruise missiles and other long-range missiles drawn from its inventory. Hundreds of advanced air defense interceptors have been sent from South Korea and other parts of Asia to the Middle East, along with a carrier strike group and several Navy destroyers. A US official said US forces in South Korea would face danger in the event of war with North Korea, because the Pentagon has redeployed tactical surveillance assets to the Middle East and withdrawn air defense systems. In Europe, allies have sought to increase weapons purchases from other countries given US production shortfalls.

Officials said Russia and China have long understood that US inventory is limited and that restoring stockpiles to levels that can support certain war plans takes time.