An analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) warns that a 39-day bombing and air defense campaign against Iran has depleted America's weapons stockpiles, requiring years to fully rebuild.
According to CNN, U.S. forces have burned through 50 to 80 percent of key munitions during the West Asia conflict. This includes roughly half of all Patriot air defense missiles and THAAD interceptors, along with 30 percent of the Navy's Tomahawk cruise missile inventory.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged that replacing these systems will take "months and years," as manufacturing lead times push full replenishment schedules out by three to five years. While defense officials say current reserves can handle ongoing Middle East operations, CSIS experts warn the drawdowns create a "window of vulnerability" in the Indo-Pacific, potentially compromising long-term readiness against peer adversaries like China.
