US Faces Critical Shortage of Missile Defense Interceptors

The Washington-based think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), has reported that since the onset of hostilities involving Iran, the United States has utilized approximately one-third of its Patriot missile defense inventory and nearly half of its THAAD interceptor missiles.

According to the organization’s estimates, the US possessed roughly 2,330 Patriot interceptors prior to the conflict. That figure has now dropped to a range of 759 to 827.

Meanwhile, the US held an estimated 452 THAAD interceptors before the conflict; currently, between 234 and 278 remain.

CSIS stated that these figures were derived from public data and US Department of Defense budget documents for the 2027 fiscal year.

The organization warned that should a new conflict with Iran erupt, the US would be forced to manage the situation with a depleted stockpile of interceptors. This could heighten risks to air defense capabilities and compel the US and its allies to accept greater strategic risks regarding the deployment of their interceptors.