America Uses a Quarter of Its THAAD Missile Stockpile After Short War with Iran

Translation by SadaNews - Inside sources revealed to CNN that the United States utilized nearly 25% of its stockpile of THAAD interceptors during the 12-day war with Iran, amidst signs of diminishing production capacity for this vital defense system.

According to the sources, U.S. forces launched more than 100 THAAD missiles, possibly reaching up to 150, to support Israel in countering Iranian attacks, raising concerns within Washington about future deterrence readiness, especially given a slowed production rate that does not exceed 12 missiles annually, according to the Pentagon's 2026 budget.

The "American Network" reported from air defense officials and missile experts that this rapid depletion poses a "strategic challenge" to the United States, particularly amid escalating global tensions. Despite official statements confirming the U.S. military's capability to perform missions at any time, the secrecy surrounding stockpile levels adds further ambiguity regarding actual readiness.

For its part, Pentagon reports indicated that future spending plans include $1.3 billion to improve supply chains and $2.5 billion to expand defense production, in a move aimed at compensating for shortages and enhancing deterrence against potential threats, particularly from China, according to security experts.

Despite the extensive use of THAAD missiles, dozens of Iranian missiles succeeded in reaching targets within Israel, raising questions about the system's effectiveness and the reliability of its use in repeated crises. A missile defense expert confirmed that "THAAD is a rare resource, and the United States cannot afford to deplete it repeatedly."

Meanwhile, a former senior U.S. military officer confirmed that a quarter of the advanced interceptor stockpile was indeed produced during the war with Iran. He added: "The Department of Defense is currently reviewing levels of essential war ammunition stockpiles and is seeking to significantly increase annual production capacity, a long-awaited effort."

Data from "Lockheed Martin," the manufacturer of the system, indicates that there are nine active batteries around the world, seven of which belong to the U.S. Army, with plans to deploy an additional battery before the end of 2025. Available data from 2019 showed that five American THAAD batteries were stationed at bases in Texas, one in Guam, and another in South Korea. By last year, the Pentagon had moved two of these batteries to the Middle East to protect Israel. Two more batteries were delivered to the United Arab Emirates and were used to intercept Houthi ballistic missiles.