The US Army has reportedly used up most of its stock of long-range, high-precision missiles during its five-month conflict with Iran.
The development has raised concerns about the level of US military readiness in the event of a new conflict in the future.
According to several sources familiar with the data, the US has used up almost the entire stock of the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), the US Army's main weapons for launching precision strikes from long distances.
Missiles Become Strategic Military Assets
ATACMS and PrSM are important assets in modern military operations because they are capable of attacking targets with high precision from a safe distance. ATACMS was previously used by Ukraine in attacks on targets in Russian territory, while PrSM is being developed as a new generation that offers more sophisticated capabilities.
The depletion of this missile stock is expected to limit Washington's military options if President Donald Trump decides to relaunch large-scale military operations against Iran. The situation could also force the US to rely on riskier bombing missions.
Concerns Over Prolonged Conflict
Although the exact number of remaining missiles has not been disclosed, several officials reportedly worry that the dwindling stockpile could affect the US's ability to face threats from other major powers such as Russia and China.
However, a source informed that the US Central Command in the Middle East is still able to redistribute weapons supplies to ensure that the needs of military operations around the world continue to be met.
US Claims Supply Still Strong
The White House stressed that the US still has sufficient ammunition reserves and remains the country with the largest stockpile of weapons in the world. President Donald Trump also said that the US defense industry is now increasing the production of ammunition and missiles at the highest rate to meet military needs.
However, defense analysts believe that even though weapons production is now at record levels, the supply may still be insufficient if the US is involved in a prolonged large-scale war.
This development shows that the prolonged conflict not only increases the cost of war, but also puts pressure on the US strategic weapons inventory and its ability to respond to crises in other regions.
