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The United States has used nearly all of its global stockpile of key long-range precision missiles during its military campaign against Iran, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter, raising new questions about the pace of U.S. weapons production and military preparedness.
The sources told CBS News that the U.S. has expended virtually all of its Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS)and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) during Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. military operation against Iran. Reuters first reported that the stockpiles had been nearly depleted.
The revelation comes amid broader concerns about the Pentagon’s inventory of advanced precision-guided munitions following months of sustained military operations in the Middle East.
Precision missile inventories under strain
CBS News previously reported that U.S. stockpiles of both offensive long-range missiles and defensive interceptors have declined significantly during the conflict, creating pressure on the Defense Department as it balances current operations with future contingencies.
U.S. officials said inventories of ATACMS and Precision Strike Missiles remain limited. However, they identified the most immediate concern as dwindling supplies of Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)interceptors, which have been used at a rate faster than defense manufacturers can replace them.
A July report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimated the United States possessed approximately 2,330 Patriot interceptors before the conflict. By late July, that inventory had fallen to between 759 and 827 missiles.
The same report estimated THAAD interceptor inventories declined from roughly 452 before the war to between 234 and 278 by July 27.
A separate CSIS analysis concluded it could take until at least mid-2029 for U.S. inventories of both Patriot and THAAD interceptors to return to pre-war levels under current production rates.
Pentagon disputes readiness concerns
Despite reports of shrinking inventories, Pentagon officials insist the U.S. military remains fully capable of carrying out its missions.
“America’s military is the most powerful in the world and has everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the President’s choosing,” Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement to CBS News.
“We have executed multiple successful operations across combatant commands while ensuring the U.S. military possesses a deep arsenal of capabilities to protect our people and our interests,” he added.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also dismissed concerns about the nation’s weapons stockpile during a June 14 appearance on CBS News’ Face the Nation.
“That is a manufactured story that the media wants to peddle and ultimately our stockpiles are great, and they’re only getting stronger,” Hegseth said.
Diplomacy pauses military operations
Large-scale U.S. military operations against Iran remain paused as diplomatic negotiations continue over security in the Strait of Hormuz, according to President Donald Trump.
The president has said he is giving Tehran additional time to reach an agreement but warned that military action could resume if U.S. demands are not met.
“I want to give them every last chance before decapitation,” Trump said Monday during remarks in the Oval Office.
The pause follows weeks of intense military exchanges between the United States and Iran that required significant expenditures of precision-guided weapons and missile defense systems.
Broader implications
Defense analysts have warned that replenishing advanced missile inventories will require years because production capacity has struggled to keep pace with demand from recent conflicts.
The issue has become increasingly significant as the Pentagon balances commitments in the Middle East with broader global security responsibilities, including deterrence efforts in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
