The US is running low on some types of air-defense missiles, raising questions about the Pentagon’s readiness to respond to the continuing wars in the Middle East and Europe and a potential conflict in the Pacific. according to WSJ, American officials, the Pentagon fears that its stock of interceptor missiles will run out and may not be able to replace them.
Pentagon is now suffering from a shortage of some types of air defense missiles, which raises questions about its readiness to intervene in the Middle East, Europe, and a potential conflict in the Pacific.
The interceptor missiles have quickly become the most sought-after munitions during the crisis in the Middle East, as Israel faces a growing threat from missiles and drones.
The shortage is becoming a matter of concern, especially after the Israeli attack against Iran, which American officials fear will lead to another wave of counterattacks by Iran.
The standard missiles, which are usually launched from ships and come in various types, are among the most common interceptor missiles used by the United States to save Israel from Iranian missile attacks and are essential to stopping Yemeni attacks on Israeli or Western ships heading to Israeli ports through the Red Sea.
US officials said the United States has launched too many standard missiles since October 2023.
Weapons production is difficult.
The heavy use of the Pentagon’s limited stockpile of interceptor missiles raises concerns about Washington and its allies’ ability to keep up with the unexpectedly high demand caused by Israeli attacks on countries in the Middle East, as well as Washington’s support for Ukraine.
The Pentagon fears its stockpile could run out faster than it can be produced, leaving the United States vulnerable to a potential conflict with China in the Pacific.
The United States “has not developed a defense industrial base dedicated to a large-scale war of attrition in both Europe and the Middle East, while meeting its own readiness standards”.
Elias Youssef, deputy director of the conventional defense program at the Stimson Center said that Both of these wars (Middle East-Ukraine) are protracted conflicts, which is not part of US defense planning”, according to WSJ.
Washington has proven that increasing weapons production is difficult for the Pentagon because it often requires companies to open new production lines, expand facilities, and hire additional workers. Companies are often reluctant to invest in this expansion without knowing whether the Pentagon is committed to purchasing at increasing levels in the long term or not.
According to the Financial Times, revealed that Israel is facing an imminent shortage of interceptor missiles, while it is working to strengthen air defenses with Washington’s help to protect it from being targeted.
