U.S. Weapons Stockpiles Could Take Years To Rebuild After Iran War, Ukraine Aid, CSIS Warns

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – U.S. weapons inventories depleted by the Iran war and continued military aid to Ukraine could take three or more years to fully replenish, raising fresh concerns about America’s readiness for a potential conflict with China, according to a new analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The CSIS report said some of the most heavily used systems — including Tomahawk cruise missiles, Patriot interceptors, and THAAD missile-defense interceptors — are also among the most important weapons the United States would need in a future Western Pacific crisis. Analysts warned that the issue is not simply funding, but production capacity and time.

The Pentagon pushed back against concerns about readiness. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said America’s military remains “the most powerful in the world” and has the capabilities needed to protect U.S. interests.

President Donald Trump has moved to increase defense spending through a $1.5 trillion fiscal year 2027 defense budget, with funding aimed at replacing weapons used in Operation Epic Fury and expanding munitions inventories beyond prewar levels. The administration has also signed framework agreements with defense manufacturers to expand production capacity.

CSIS senior adviser Mark Cancian and research associate Chris Park said the United States has enough munitions for any plausible Iran-war scenario, but the drawdown has opened a “window of vulnerability” in the Western Pacific. According to the analysis, replacing more than 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles could take until late 2030 or early 2031, while Patriot and THAAD interceptor stocks may not be restored until 2029.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told Congress earlier this month that replenishing inventories would take “months and years,” depending on the weapon system — an assessment broadly supported by the CSIS report.

Ukraine aid has added pressure to the stockpile problem, as NATO allies continue purchasing U.S.-made weapons for Kyiv through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List initiative. CSIS warned that the United States must now balance its own military needs with orders from allies and partners, a challenge likely to create friction as demand outpaces supply.

Still, the report noted that deterrence in the Pacific is not entirely bleak, pointing to America’s recent combat experience compared with China’s lack of modern wartime experience.

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