United States faces missile shortages after Iran conflict

The United States is facing significant challenges in replenishing its missile inventories following the use of large quantities of Tomahawk cruise missiles and Patriot interceptors during the conflict with Iran. According to estimates from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the U.S. fired more than 1,000 Tomahawk missiles, representing approximately 33% of its pre-war inventory. These stocks are not expected to be fully replenished until late 2030 or early 2031.

Furthermore, CSIS estimates that Washington has used roughly half of its high-end Patriot interceptors, with stockpiles falling below 1,000 units as of late July 2026. While defense contractors are investing billions of dollars into expanding production capacity and building new factories, these efforts are described as coming “too late” to substantially improve inventories for any potential conflict over the next several years.

The shortage is attributed to a long-term hollowing out of the U.S. defense industrial base caused by years of underinvestment. An Army Science Board study noted that Pentagon orders for critical facilities, such as the Tomahawk production line in Tucson, Arizona, had previously dropped so low that production was at risk of shutting down entirely.