Arabic version: تزايد المخاوف بشأن مخزون الأسلحة الأمريكية خلال الصراع مع إيران
Leaks from the Pentagon last week have suggested that if strikes on Iran continue for more than 10 days, US stocks of some critical missiles could start to run low. According to Al Jazeera, the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran while talks between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear programme were ongoing.
In response, Iran hit back with missile and drone attacks across the region, including targets in Israel as well as US military assets in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq. The Pentagon is also understood to have warned President Donald Trump that an extended military campaign in Iran would carry serious risks, including the high cost of replenishing Washington’s dwindling munitions stockpiles.
Trump has held that the US has enough in its stockpile to keep the military campaign in Iran going. He claimed through social media that the United States Munitions Stockpiles have, at the medium and upper medium grade, never been higher or better. However, analysts have told Al Jazeera that some weapons in its stockpile may have run very low by then, particularly crucial interceptor missiles.
The US military has used more than 20 weapons systems across air, sea, land and missile defence forces during its ongoing operation in Iran. It is using B-1 bombers, B-2 stealth bombers, F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters, F-22 Raptor jets, F-15s and EA-18G Growlers. Additionally, it is using air defence systems such as the Patriot, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) batteries and Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.
Experts warn that if the conflict with Iran continues, the US may particularly struggle with shortages of precision munitions and interceptors. The production of these high-end systems is slow, and replenishing stockpiles could take considerable time. With Iran reportedly able to produce a large number of offensive weapons rapidly, the imbalance in production capabilities raises concerns for US military strategy moving forward.
