U.S. Army’s ATACMS and PrSM Stocks Nearly Exhausted After Iran Conflict, Officials Say
Internal data indicate the Army has used almost all of its ATACMS and Precision Strike Missile inventories during the five-month war with Iran, prompting Pentagon and White House officials to dispute claims of a weapons shortage.
Internal U.S. military data reviewed by Reuters show the Army has expended virtually all of its Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) stocks during the five-month conflict with Iran. The drawdown has raised concerns among some officials that the depletion could limit the military’s ability to respond to future crises involving other major powers.
The White House rejected suggestions that the United States lacks the munitions needed for its missions. A Pentagon spokesperson said, "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. 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."
Independent analysts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that about 65% of the Patriot interceptor stockpile and at least 38% of THAAD interceptors have been used since the conflict began, figures that align with the internal data cited by Reuters. The report also noted reductions in Tomahawk cruise missile inventories.
ATACMS and PrSM are among the Army’s primary long-range precision strike weapons, designed to hit targets hundreds of miles away without risking pilots. They are valued for striking heavily defended sites such as command centers and air-defense installations. While lower-cost drones and autonomous systems are being fielded to conserve expensive missiles, officials stress that these cheaper platforms cannot fully replace the capabilities of long-range precision weapons.
The Pentagon continues to emphasize that, despite the high consumption rates, the United States retains the overall capability to conduct global operations. Ongoing efforts aim to increase production capacity for advanced munitions and expand manufacturing of drones and autonomous systems.