Hegseth Seeks Billions for U.S. Missiles as Some Stockpiles Fall to 20%
Updated
Updated · The Atlantic · Aug 6
Hegseth Seeks Billions for U.S. Missiles as Some Stockpiles Fall to 20%
3 articles · Updated · The Atlantic · Aug 6
Summary
U.S. missile inventories have fallen so sharply after five months of war with Iran that some long-range munitions are at just 20% of Pentagon targets, prompting Pete Hegseth to seek billions from Republicans.
Patriot and THAAD interceptor stocks are especially strained, limiting Washington’s ability to resupply Ukraine, defend against Iranian barrages and credibly threaten a wider strike without risking weak defenses.
Pentagon contracts worth tens of billions are already in place, but officials say production will take years, not months; for key systems such as Patriot, supply is not expected to catch up with demand until about 2030.
The shortages have widened a split inside the administration: Trump publicly called reports of munitions shortfalls false even as aides worry the constraint is weakening U.S. leverage and pushing the White House toward diplomacy.
The crunch reflects years of underproduction worsened by Ukraine, Yemen and Iran, and analysts say rebuilding to prewar levels could take up to five years, with Asia commanders needing roughly three more to feel comfortable.
Are global adversaries secretly preparing to exploit the Pentagon's multi-year window of vulnerability?
How will the military defend against cheap drone swarms when multimillion-dollar missiles are nearly exhausted?
The $200 Billion Emergency: U.S. Munitions Depletion After the 2026 Iran War and the Struggle to Replenish
Overview
After a five-month military campaign against Iran, the United States has nearly exhausted its advanced munitions stockpiles, including ATACMS, PrSM, Tomahawk, Patriot, and THAAD missiles. This depletion, worsened by years of industrial decline and large-scale aid to Ukraine, has created a critical window of vulnerability for U.S. military readiness, especially in the Indo-Pacific. Replenishing these weapons will take years, prompting the Trump administration to request $200 billion in emergency funding and sparking fierce political debate. In response, the Pentagon is shifting procurement toward Silicon Valley startups and launching rapid initiatives like Replicator to rebuild capabilities and adapt to new threats.