US Precision Missile Stocks Depleted by Iran War, Sources Say

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON- The United States has depleted much of its stockpile of long-range precision missiles during its five-month military campaign against Iran, according to three people familiar with internal data, prompting concern among some officials that shrinking inventories could affect the country’s readiness for future conflicts.

The weapons most affected are the U.S. Army’s Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and the newer Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), both of which are designed to strike targets accurately from long distances. Two of the sources said the military has used “virtually all” of its available ATACMS and PrSM munitions during the conflict, although they declined to disclose the remaining stockpiles.

The extent of the depletion has not previously been reported. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing sensitive military information, said the sustained campaign has significantly reduced inventories of some of the U.S. military’s most advanced surface-to-surface precision weapons.

President Donald Trump launched military operations against Iran alongside Israel in February, predicting the campaign would be short. As the conflict entered its fifth month, officials familiar with internal discussions said concerns had grown within the administration that declining missile inventories could constrain the United States’ ability to respond to future crises involving adversaries such as Russia or China.

A fourth person familiar with the matter said U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, had nearly exhausted the land-based missile stocks available when the conflict began but had continued operations by drawing replacement munitions from U.S. inventories stationed elsewhere around the world.

Asked about the reported stockpile levels, the White House issued a statement from Trump rejecting concerns over shortages. The president said the United States possessed more munitions than any other country and more than it required, adding that American defense manufacturers were producing weapons at record levels while expanding production capacity.

The Pentagon also dismissed suggestions that operational readiness had been compromised. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the U.S. military remained fully capable of conducting operations whenever directed by the president and retained a deep arsenal to protect American interests.

Defense analysts broadly agree that production of several key weapons has increased substantially in recent years but caution that prolonged, high-intensity conflicts can consume precision-guided munitions more rapidly than industry can replace them.

One source said the heavy use of ATACMS and PrSM reflected a decision by the Trump administration to rely more heavily on stand-off weapons rather than riskier missions involving piloted aircraft. Military analysts have long regarded such missiles as particularly valuable in conflicts against opponents possessing sophisticated air defense systems.

A March report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said the missiles had been used against targets inside Iran. The report also noted that inventories of the newer PrSM were limited because the system is still entering service, although the U.S. Army has placed significant procurement orders for delivery beginning in 2027 as it phases out the older ATACMS.

Officials familiar with internal deliberations said military leaders have also warned for weeks that stocks of defensive weapons, including Patriot missile interceptors used against ballistic threats, have declined sharply. Several media organizations reported last week that Trump decided against launching another large-scale offensive against Iran partly because advisers warned about diminishing inventories. A U.S. official disputed that account, saying the decision instead reflected pressure from Gulf states.

The conflict has also intensified debate in Washington over the president’s authority to conduct sustained military operations against Iran without congressional authorization. No request for a declaration of war or an authorization to use military force has been submitted to Congress.

Separate concerns extend beyond offensive missiles. A recent CSIS assessment estimated that approximately 65% of U.S. Patriot interceptors had been expended between February and July, while stockpiles of THAAD ballistic missile interceptors had fallen by at least 38% from pre-war levels. Two of the sources said those estimates aligned with internal government data.

One source also said the United States had consumed slightly less than half of its global inventory of Tomahawk cruise missiles since the campaign began, although Reuters could not independently verify that figure. Raytheon, a business of RTX that manufactures Tomahawk missiles, has reached a tentative multi-year agreement with the Pentagon to increase production as Washington seeks to replenish depleted inventories alongside other critical munitions.