U.S. Patriot interceptor stocks dwindle after Iran conflict amid Ukraine licensing debate

An analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates that the United States has used about two‑thirds of its Patriot missile interceptor inventory during the war with Iran, leaving fewer than 1,000 interceptors remaining. The same study notes a roughly 38 % reduction in THAAD interceptors, raising concerns about U.S. and allied air‑defense readiness for any new high‑intensity conflict.

President Donald Trump told the Financial Times that the United States has not yet decided whether to grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot interceptors, describing the system as an “extraordinary weapon” and emphasizing caution over who receives such licences. The remarks followed a recent White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and earlier statements at the NATO summit in Turkey promising a licensing pathway.