U.S. Depletes Quarter of THAAD Missile Stockpile in Iran-Israel War, Raising Alarm Over Defense Readiness
(Worthy News) – The United States expended approximately one-quarter of its total THAAD interceptor missile arsenal during last month’s Operation Rising Lion, a massive missile defense effort to shield Israel from Iran’s unprecedented ballistic assault, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
U.S. forces launched between 100 and 150 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors in response to Iran’s barrage of over 500 long-range missiles aimed at Israeli territory. Despite the high interception rate–reportedly 86%–dozens of missiles still broke through, causing significant damage in cities like Tel Aviv and killing 29 people.
The missile launches represent a significant drain on America’s limited THAAD supply, sparking concerns among former defense officials and weapons experts over the Pentagon’s readiness for other global contingencies. The U.S. currently operates only seven THAAD batteries, with two deployed to the Middle East during the conflict.
“This is not something we can sustain,” said one missile defense expert who spoke to CNN. “It was a major commitment to our Israeli ally, but THAAD is a scarce resource, and missile defense capacity is definitely a concern.”
Each THAAD battery is manned by 95 troops and includes six launchers with a total of 48 interceptors. Each missile costs roughly $12.7 million, according to the 2025 Missile Defense Agency budget. Only 11 new THAAD interceptors were produced last year, and the current defense budget projects just 12 more this fiscal year–well below the levels needed to replenish stocks after such a deployment. Plans for 37 new interceptors in 2026 are included in the upcoming budget, along with $3.8 billion earmarked for missile production and supply chain expansion.
Pentagon spokesman Kingsley Wilson downplayed the depletion, stating, “The U.S. military is the strongest it has ever been and has everything it needs to carry out any mission, anywhere, anytime.” He pointed to the successful Operation Midnight Hammer, which he claimed led to the “complete destruction of Iran’s nuclear capabilities,” as evidence of American military dominance.
Still, a defense official refused to disclose the current number of remaining interceptors, citing operational security, but insisted the U.S. “remains postured to respond to any threat.”
The heavy THAAD usage drew scrutiny from retired military leaders. A former senior officer confirmed that approximately 25% of the U.S. THAAD arsenal was expended in the conflict and called for a “significant increase” in production capacity–an effort he said was “long overdue.”
The missile shortage problem is not new. Former Biden administration officials had flagged dwindling missile stockpiles as a concern even before the war. “Stockpiles are dropping. We need more. We need them faster than they are being built,” said one official. Another added, “This was a concern during the Biden administration. I’m sure it’s a concern now during the Trump administration.”
Former Assistant Secretary of Defense Mara Karlin told CNN, “Air defense is relevant in all of the major theaters right now. And there are not enough systems. There are not enough interceptors. There’s not enough production, and there are not enough people working on it.”
Lockheed Martin, which manufactures THAAD, reports that nine batteries are currently in service globally, some of which are stationed in the UAE to defend against Houthi missile attacks. The redeployment of systems to the Middle East underscores the strategic stress placed on the U.S. military’s global commitments.
Analysts noted a visible decline in interception success as the war progressed. In the early days, only 8% of Iranian missiles breached defenses. By the end, that figure had climbed to 25%, potentially due to more advanced Iranian missiles equipped with decoys and multiple warheads.
Mora Deitch of Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies suggested that Israel may have shifted interception strategies rather than suffered a technical failure. “What appears as a decline in interception effectiveness might instead reflect a deliberate shift in strategy,” she said.
Still, visible signs of strain on air defense systems surfaced. Sam Lair, a missile researcher at the James Martin Center, said social media evidence confirmed at least 39 THAAD interceptors were fired, with a total use of at least 80 throughout the war. “The presence of the THAAD battery in the first place suggests that the Israelis don’t have a super deep interceptor magazine,” he added.
As U.S. leaders now scramble to replenish stockpiles and invest in production, the Operation Rising Lion experience has become a wake-up call: missile defense, long taken for granted, is now a fragile pillar of American military deterrence.
Latest Worthy News
If you are interested in articles produced by Worthy News, please check out our FREE sydication service available to churches or online Christian ministries. To find out more, visit Worthy Plugins.