Reuters, citing sources, reports that the U.S. military has used nearly all of its ATACMS and PrSM missiles throughout the five-month Iran-Iran conflict, raising concerns about its readiness to handle new crises.
On August 5, 2569, at 09.04:5 AM, Bloomberg News reported that the United States has used a large number of high-precision, long-range guided missiles in the war with Iran over the past five months, to the point that some types of weapons in its arsenal are nearly depleted. This has raised concerns within the government that the military may have reduced capabilities if it faces a new conflict with a major power like China or Russia.
Three sources with inside information revealed to Reuters that the U.S. Army has virtually used all (or nearly all) of its Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) missiles during its military operations in Iran, marking the first time such a level of ammunition usage has been publicly disclosed.
ATACMS and PrSM are high-precision surface-to-surface missiles capable of striking long-range targets without the risk of sending fighter jets into dangerous areas. Each missile costs over $1 million USD.
PrSM is a new generation missile that is replacing ATACMS, which was widely used in the Ukrainian war to strike targets within Russia.
Sources also indicate that, in addition to Army missiles, the United States has used nearly half of its global reserve of Tomahawk cruise missiles since the war began, although Reuters was unable to independently verify these figures.
Meanwhile, a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimates that from February to July, the United States used approximately 65% of its Patriot interceptor missile arsenal, and the number of THAAD interceptor missiles decreased by at least 38%, which is consistent with internal U.S. government data, as confirmed by two sources.
Officials involved stated that the decline in long-range missile arsenals raises concerns that, should a new crisis arise with China or Russia, the United States may lack sufficient weapons to deter or strike long-range targets, especially in areas with robust air defense systems.
One source indicated that the government chose to use a large number of missiles because it wanted to avoid a direct attack with fighter jets and pilots, which carried a much higher risk.
President Donald Trump dismissed these concerns, stating in a White House statement, "The United States has more weapons and equipment than any other country in the world, and far more than we need."
Trump also stated that U.S. arms manufacturers are ramping up production to record levels, expanding factories and production lines to replenish the nation's arsenal.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense also confirmed that the military remains highly capable of carrying out any mission ordered by the president and can be reinforced from weapons depots in other regions if necessary.
However, analysts warn that even though the U.S. defense industry continues to increase production of various types of weapons, if a war drags on for a long time, production may still not be able to keep up with actual needs, which could affect the future military readiness of the U.S.
Reference: www.reuters.com
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