TEHRAN: Draining its weapons stockpile, during the bombing of Iran (aka Operation Epic Fury), US military could face a near-term risk of non availability of missiles.
America has burned through billions of dollars worth of weapons, including eleven hundred Long-Range Stealth Cruise Missiles (supposed to be used against China in case of a war), twelve hundred Patriot Interceptors (costing four million dollars each) and one thousand Tomahawk Cruise Missiles etc.
According to details as of 56th day of War with Iran (24 April, 2026), forty-five percent of Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) has been used by USA; half of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Patriot Missiles have been fired. Surprisingly, weapons, that the Super Power had utilized in weeks against Iran, were manufactured in years.
Post shooting one-fourth of Tomahawk Cruise Missiles, its arsenal harbours 3000 of them; After launching 1100 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Extended Range (JASSM-ER) Pentagon is left with 1500 of them. Interestingly US will need three to five years to refill its armoury.
It may be recalled, president Joe Biden’s administration had provided Ukraine and Israel billions of dollars worth of weapons. At that time a US Navy admiral pointed out that American weapons’ stockpile was depleting. Similarly, Tehran (that was firing hundreds of missiles during the first days of War with USA) reduced the number to (a) dozen(s).
It is pertinent to mention here that despite US bombing since 28th Feb, Iran is still ready to combat. It had seized two cargo ships and damaged a third one trying to pass through Strait of Hormuz (marine passage for 20% of the world’s oil) on Wed (22nd April, 2026), hours after the US President announced an indefinite extension to the ceasefire.
Tehran, accusing them of sailing sans permits, seized Panama-flagged Francesca (operated by the world’s biggest container shipping group MSC), and Greek-operated Epaminondas.
Newspakistan.tv
