US Has Used ‘Virtually All’ of Its Long-Range Precision Missiles During Iran War, Sources Say

The U.S. Army has depleted a significant portion of its stockpile of highly accurate long-range missiles during its five-month war with Iran, according to three sources familiar with the data, raising concerns about the military’s readiness for future conflicts.

The weapons primarily include the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), both surface-to-surface missiles. According to two of the sources, the United States has used “virtually all” of its inventory of these munitions.

The extent of the depletion of ATACMS and PrSM stockpiles has not previously been reported.

These long-range precision weapons are a key component of the U.S. military’s arsenal, enabling accurate strikes from safe distances. U.S.-supplied ATACMS have played a critical role in the war in Ukraine by allowing Ukrainian forces to strike targets inside Russia. The PrSM is a newer, longer-range system that is gradually replacing the ATACMS.

Analysts say the missiles, each costing more than $1 million, would also be vital in any potential conflict with China.

The sources declined to disclose how many missiles remain in U.S. inventories.

President Donald Trump launched the war against Iran jointly with Israel in February, predicting it would be brief. However, as the conflict has dragged on, the three sources expressed concern that dwindling missile stockpiles could weaken the United States’ ability to deter adversaries such as Russia and China.

A fourth source said U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees military operations in the Middle East, has nearly exhausted the land-based missiles it had in theater before the war, but has replenished supplies by drawing from stockpiles elsewhere around the world.

Responding to questions about the stockpile data, the White House released a statement from President Trump, who said the United States has “far more munitions than anyone in the world” and “far more than we need.”

“Our defense companies are, at this moment, producing more munitions than they have ever made before, while expanding their factories and production capacity at record levels,” Trump said.

Analysts agree that production of several key munitions has reached record levels but caution that current output may still fall short of what would be required in a prolonged war.

Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the ATACMS, PrSM and THAAD missile systems, and Raytheon, which produces Tomahawk cruise missiles and Patriot interceptors, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell said, “America’s military is the most powerful in the world and has everything it needs to execute operations whenever and wherever the President directs. We have successfully carried out multiple operations across combatant commands while maintaining a deep arsenal to protect our people and our interests.”

According to the sources, internal discussions within the Trump administration intensified over the past week over how much longer the United States could continue striking Iran without reducing missile inventories to levels that might compromise its ability to respond to crises elsewhere.

Warnings Over Weapons Supplies

One source said the sharp decline in ATACMS and PrSM inventories reflected a strategic decision by the Trump administration to rely more heavily on stand-off missile strikes rather than riskier attacks using manned aircraft.

A March report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) noted that PrSM inventories were already limited because the missile is relatively new, although the U.S. Army has placed substantial orders for delivery in 2027. The Army is also phasing out ATACMS in favor of the newer PrSM.

Two sources said senior military officials have been warning President Trump for weeks that stocks of defensive weapons—including Patriot missile interceptors—are also shrinking rapidly. Several media outlets reported last week that Trump decided against launching another major offensive inside Iran after military advisers warned about declining U.S. stockpiles.

A U.S. official disputed those reports, saying Trump ultimately refrained from another strike because of pressure from Gulf states.

The conflict has also reignited debate over Trump’s authority to wage war against Iran without congressional approval. No declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force has been submitted to Congress.

Defensive Missile Stocks Also Declining

A CSIS report published last week estimated that between February and July, the United States expended approximately 65% of its Patriot missile interceptors, while stockpiles of THAAD ballistic missile interceptors fell by at least 38% compared with the start of the war.

Although Reuters could not independently verify those figures, two sources said they closely matched internal U.S. government data.

One source also said the United States has consumed just under half of its global inventory of Tomahawk cruise missiles since the conflict began. Reuters was unable to independently verify that claim.

The Tomahawk is the U.S. Navy’s primary long-range strike weapon, launched from destroyers, cruisers and submarines to hit heavily defended targets without putting pilots at risk.

Meanwhile, Raytheon has reached a tentative multi-year agreement with the Pentagon to expand production of Tomahawk missiles and other critical munitions as Washington moves to rebuild depleted stockpiles.

Source: Reuters