Iranian conflict consumes heavily; U.S. military missile stockpiles halved across multiple types

Internal assessments by the U.S. Department of Defense and evaluations by external organizations show that the stockpiles of key U.S. military weapons and ammunition have been heavily depleted during the Iran conflict. Several missile types have each consumed about half of their quantities, and replenishment is expected to be slow, making it difficult to make up the shortages within a few years. According to a report by CNN on the 21st, the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates that since the start of the war against Iran on February 28, the U.S. military has consumed at least 45% of its “precision strike missiles,” at least 50% of its “THAAD” air-defense system interceptors, and nearly 50% of its “Patriot” air-defense system interceptors. Three sources said that the results of the assessments above are very close to the Pentagon’s internal assessments. In addition, based on estimates from the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the accounts of these three sources, U.S. “Tomahawk” cruise missile stockpiles have been depleted by 30%; “Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile” (JASSM) has been depleted by more than 20%; and the “Standard-3” and “Standard-6” air-defense missiles have been depleted by about 20%. (Xinhua)