Trump’s Missile Math Problem
An accounting of how the White House has run down key munitions in the Iran war.
The depletion of crucial U.S. munitions is becoming noticeable in the ongoing conflict with Iran. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) reports that the United States has used up to half of its key defensive and offensive missiles in this year's conflict. This diminishing inventory reduces the White House's ability to project power and strengthens its adversaries.
Tom Karako, director of CSIS's Missile Defense Project, discussed the extent of U.S. missile use and its implications for foreign policy. The Patriots, a popular missile interceptor, are in high demand globally. The United States likely started the war with around 2,500 Patriots and has already used half, potentially up to 1,200.
Each Patriot interceptor costs approximately $4 million, and it takes about 36 months to produce one. While the U.S. has enough for the current conflict, this situation raises concerns about the nation's ability to project power worldwide.
Written by urgent.news from Foreign Policy's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
