How much of the US missile stockpile has been used?

The US has used 'virtually all' of its ATACMS and PrSM long-range missiles during five months of war with Iran, according to multiple anonymous sources. Stockpiles of defensive interceptors have also fallen sharply, with 65% of Patriot missiles expended since February. This raises concerns about readiness for future conflicts.

Why are analysts worried about the missile depletion?

Analysts warn that the depletion of long-range missiles and interceptors could limit the US military's ability to deter adversaries like China and Russia. These weapons are critical for striking targets from a safe distance, particularly in conflicts with strong air defences. Production is at record levels, but supplies may still fall short for a prolonged war.

Which outlets reported the depletion of defensive interceptors?

CNBC and Reuters reported the depletion of defensive interceptors, including 65% of Patriot missiles and 38% fewer THAAD interceptors since February. The right-rated digests from The Straits Times and Times of India did not mention these figures, focusing instead on the depletion of long-range precision missiles.

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Conflict & Security5 outlets ran this5 min read

US missile stockpiles depleted after five months of Iran war

Q: What did the White House say about the missile stockpiles?

The White House, through former President Donald Trump, stated that the US has 'far more munitions than anyone in the world' and that defence companies are producing weapons at record levels. However, analysts caution that production may not meet the demands of a prolonged conflict, despite the increased output.

Reports say ATACMS and PrSM supplies are nearly exhausted, raising concerns over future conflict readiness

MediaBias Comparison Desk

AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised

This article was written at the MediaBias News desk from the one-paragraph digests an aggregator publishes for each of the outlets listed below it, together with 2 of those outlets' own reports read in full. How we do it

4 Aug 2026, 11:46Updated 4 Aug 2026, 11:46

US missile stockpiles depleted after five months of Iran war

What this story says

The US has nearly exhausted its stockpiles of ATACMS and PrSM long-range missiles during five months of war with Iran, according to multiple anonymous sources.
Defensive interceptors have also been heavily used: 65% of Patriot missiles and 38% fewer THAAD interceptors since February, per reports.
The depletion has raised concerns about US readiness for future conflicts, including potential confrontations with China or Russia.
The White House says production is at record levels, but analysts warn supplies may still fall short for a prolonged war.

The US has used up most of its stockpile of long-range precision missiles during five months of war with Iran, according to multiple anonymous sources cited by CNBC and Reuters. The weapons include Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), both of which are surface-to-surface munitions. CNBC reported that the US has used 'virtually all' of these missiles, while Reuters described the stockpiles as 'much depleted'.

The war began in February after a joint US-Israel operation. Since then, the US has also expended a significant portion of its defensive interceptors. CNBC reported that 65% of Patriot interceptors and 38% fewer Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors remain compared to pre-war levels. Reuters corroborated these figures, citing internal US data. A source told CNBC that the US has also used nearly half of its Tomahawk cruise missiles, which are launched from naval vessels.

The White House responded to reports of depleted stockpiles with a statement from former President Donald Trump, who initiated the war. Trump said the US has 'far more munitions than anyone in the world' and that defence companies are producing weapons at record levels. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that the US military 'has everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the President's choosing'. However, analysts quoted by CNBC cautioned that production may still fall short of what is needed for a prolonged conflict.

Disagreements over the impact of depleted stockpiles

CNBC reported that military leaders have warned the Trump administration about the risks of further offensive operations in Iran due to dwindling stockpiles. A source told CNBC that the drawdown reflected a decision to avoid riskier airstrikes using piloted aircraft. However, a US official disputed this account, telling CNBC that Trump chose not to launch another offensive due to pressure from Gulf states rather than concerns over missile supplies.

What the coverage left out

None of the right-rated digests mentioned the 65% depletion of Patriot interceptors or the 38% reduction in THAAD interceptors. The centre-rated digest from Reuters also omitted these figures. The left-rated CNBC report was the only one to include the cost of the missiles, noting that ATACMS and PrSM cost over $1 million each.

65%

of Patriot interceptors expended since February

Reported by CNBC and corroborated by Reuters

“Our defense companies are, at this moment, making more munitions than they have ever made before, in addition to expanding their plants and equipment at record levels.”
— Donald Trump, former US president

Tags:#USMilitary #IranWar #MissileStockpiles #DefenceReadiness #MiddleEastConflict

How each side covered it

Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.

Left

CNBC led on the near-total depletion of ATACMS and PrSM missiles, quoting multiple anonymous sources describing the stockpiles as 'virtually all' used. The report highlighted concerns from analysts about the US military's readiness for future conflicts, particularly with China, which has strong air defences. CNBC also detailed the drawdown of defensive interceptors, including Patriots and THAADs, and noted that the US has used nearly half of its Tomahawk cruise missiles.
The report included warnings from military leaders about the risks of further offensive operations in Iran due to depleted stockpiles. It also quoted Trump's statement that production is at record levels but noted that analysts believe supplies may still be insufficient for a prolonged war. CNBC described the stockpile figures as having circulated in tense internal discussions within the Trump administration.

Centre

Reuters' digest reported that the US has used up 'much of its stockpile' of long-range precision missiles, citing three anonymous sources. The report noted concerns about military readiness for future conflicts but did not specify the types of missiles or the extent of the depletion beyond the general description. The digest did not mention the drawdown of Tomahawk missiles or the internal warnings from military leaders.

Right

The Straits Times' digest reported that the US has used 'virtually all' of its long-range precision missiles, raising concerns about military readiness for future conflicts. The report did not specify the types of missiles or provide details on the drawdown of defensive interceptors or Tomahawk missiles.
The Times of India's digest similarly reported that the US has 'nearly exhausted' its supply of key long-range missiles during the five-month conflict. The report noted concerns about the impact on deterrence against Russia and China and mentioned the use of a significant portion of Tomahawk missile reserves. It did not provide specific figures on the depletion of ATACMS, PrSM, or defensive interceptors.