US and Israel face missile stockpile crisis after conflict with Iran

In June 2023, the United States and Israel engaged in a conflict with Iran that lasted for 12 days, primarily defending against Iranian missile strikes. The fighting resulted in the use of a substantial portion of their missile interceptor stockpiles, costing between $1.48 billion and $1.58 billion. Of particular note, the US utilized about 14% of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile inventory which was approximately 632 interceptors before the conflict. Following the fighting, estimates suggested that about 540 THAAD interceptors remained in stock due to the usage during this period. Additionally, the US deployed two Patriot missile defense systems at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which were responsible for intercepting 14 Iranian ballistic missiles on June 23. Each Patriot interceptor came with a price tag of roughly $3.7 million, leading to a total expenditure of about $111 million just for these intercepts. The Iranian missile barrage included 574 medium-range ballistic missiles launched toward both Israel and the US airbase in Qatar between June 13 and June 24. In terms of outcome, air defenses reportedly saved Israel about $13.5 billion in potential property damages, but it came at a heavy cost for both nations. Iran also incurred heavy losses, with the cost of its missile campaign estimated to range from $1.1 billion to $6.6 billion. The conflict showcased vulnerabilities in the air defense systems of both Israel and the US as the Iranian forces expended a significant portion of their missile arsenal, presuming they could have sustained the strikes for a longer duration. There is concern that the depletion of munitions stockpiles between the two allies may expose vulnerabilities at US bases globally, prompting defense analysts to call for augmented efforts in establishing nonkinetic interception technologies. Lt. Gen. Thomas Bergeson emphasized the need for enhancing such technologies, which could neutralize threats at a considerably reduced financial burden compared to conventional explosive methods. The current production rate indicates it could take three to eight years to replenish the THAAD interceptors that were utilized. Meanwhile, some of the Patriot interceptor resources are being allocated to support Ukraine, further complicating the situation regarding the stockpile levels. As such, there is growing anxiety about how adversaries might exploit the existing gaps in defenses. In summary, while the conflict has illuminated the effective use of missile defense systems, it also raises pressing concerns regarding the sustainability of US and Israeli defense capabilities and their readiness for future conflicts, considering their extended periods of stockpile replenishment. The need for more sophisticated interception solutions has become critical in sustaining defense against threats like those posed by Iran.