U.S. Reassesses Weapons Stockpiles Amid Intensifying Conflict with Iran

President Donald Trump is slated to speak at a defense summit hosted by the U.S. Army War College on Wednesday, where he is expected to highlight U.S. investments in the military that he claims have strengthened the nation’s position as history’s most powerful force.

However, his address arrives amid a conflict with Iran that has substantially drained U.S. weapons reserves.

The event, scheduled for Carlisle, Pennsylvania, follows renewed U.S. strikes against Iran after a week of escalated attacks and comes as Trump reiterates his intention to pursue the campaign, despite polls indicating declining public support among Americans grappling with rising living costs.

Since the conflict began on February 28, the United States has consumed at least half of its stockpiles of four key munition types, incurring billions of dollars in expenditures, according to a recent analysis.

Restoring depleted inventories may require months or even years. Analysts caution that a reduced arsenal could weaken the United States in any future confrontation, especially against a major adversary such as China.

Here’s what we know about the U.S. weapons inventory:

What’s happening with the US-Iran war?

Following a April ceasefire between the United States and Iran and a subsequent memorandum of understanding signed in June, the conflict reignited after U.S. Central Command launched extensive strikes on Iranian military sites last Wednesday, aiming to degrade Tehran’s capabilities. Intense, hour‑long attacks have persisted for four nights, targeting railway lines and bridges.

Both parties exchanged limited attacks during the ceasefire period. However, the United States intensified air campaigns last week after Iran intercepted three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz via an unapproved route.

Each side accuses the other of violating the ceasefire, and at the recent NATO leaders’ summit, Trump declared the bilateral agreement effectively ended, though he indicated that diplomatic talks could continue. Washington has also reinstated a naval blockade on Iran‑linked ships and re‑imposed sanctions.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has responded with retaliatory strikes on U.S. personnel in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait.

More than a dozen individuals, including civilians, have been killed in Iran since the new wave of U.S. attacks.

“We intend to destroy all their power plants and bridges unless they engage in negotiations,” Trump warned in a Fox News interview aired on Tuesday.

Targeting civilian infrastructure contravenes international law.

Does the US have enough weapons to keep attacking Iran?

Washington’s supplies are dwindling but have not yet reached a critical threshold, according to a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) analysis of U.S. weapons inventories.

During the initial 39 days of the U.S.–Iran conflict, from February through the April ceasefire, American forces struck over 13,000 targets, predominantly employing seven premier missile systems: Tomahawk, Joint Air‑to‑Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), Standard Missile‑3 (SM‑3), Standard Missile‑6 (SM‑6), Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), and Patriot.

For at least four of these munition categories, U.S. stockpiles have been depleted by more than 50 %, though lower‑tier alternatives remain available. Official inventory data are classified.

Below is a breakdown of usage:

• Tomahawks – The United States possessed roughly 3,000 of these long‑range sea‑launched missiles. Over 1,000 have been expended in the Iran campaign.
• JASSM – Approximately 4,000 stealthy, long‑range air‑launched missiles were in the pre‑war inventory. About 1,100 were used.
• PrSM – Supplies of the newly fielded ground‑launched long‑range missiles were already limited, with deliveries since 2023 totaling 90 units. An estimated 40–70 were expended, with one official stating the “entire” stockpile was used.
• SM‑3 – The most expensive system at $28 million per unit, about 410 were stockpiled pre‑war. Between 130 and 250 have been employed.
• SM‑6 – Another ship‑launched missile for air and cruise‑missile defense, roughly 1,160 were available initially. Estimated expenditure ranges from 190 to 370.
• THAAD – The United States had about 360 systems, comprising launchers, interceptors, and radar components. Between 190 and 290 were used.
• Patriot – Approximately 2,330 were in stock before the conflict; between 1,060 and 1,430 have been expended. Older variants may still be present, totaling around 400.

What does this mean?

CSIS analysts note that while the United States may retain sufficient munitions for short‑term operations against Iran, the significant drawdown could compromise its ability to confront future adversaries, particularly a technologically advanced rival such as China.

Replenishment of high‑cost weapon systems is projected to take several years.

Despite public assertions by Trump and senior officials that the U.S. maintains an “unlimited” arsenal, recent statements reveal logistical constraints.

In March, the administration convened with executives from Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, BAE Systems, Honeywell Aerospace, L3Harris Missile Solutions, and Northrop Grumman, securing commitments to quadruple production capacity. Executive orders under the Defense Production Act have been issued to accelerate output, reflecting Pentagon concerns over supply timelines.

In the near term, U.S. capacity may also fall short of allies’ demands, such as deliveries of THAAD and Patriot systems to Ukraine.

Supply chains have already encountered delays; for example, Japan’s order of 400 Tomahawks from Raytheon, scheduled for delivery between 2025 and 2027, could be extended by an additional two years, as indicated by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in May.

Similarly, Switzerland is pursuing procurement of alternative missile‑defense systems from France, Israel, and South Korea after prolonged waits for orders from Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.

How long will replenishing weapons take?

Hegseth remarked in May that restoration could require “months and years,” depending on the weapons system.

Analysts estimate that full reconstitution of the seven critical munitions may span from eight months to five years, based on current production rates:

• Tomahawk: 4–5 years (207 units slated for 2026 delivery; 785 requested for 2027).
• JASSM: 1 year (821 units for 2026; 821 requested for 2027).
• PrSM: 8 months (70 units for 2026; 1,134 requested for 2027).
• SM‑3: 3 years (52 units for 2026; 214 requested for 2027).
• SM‑6: 3 years (125 units for 2026; 540 requested for 2027).
• THAAD: 3–3.5 years (92 units for 2026; 857 requested for 2027).
• Patriot: 3 years (172 units for 2026; 3,202 requested for 2027).

Trump’s forthcoming $1.5 trillion 2027 defense budget proposes a 44 percent increase over the 2026 budget, earmarking substantial funds for advanced munitions.

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