Heavy missile use in Iran conflict strains US reserves

The US military has used more than 850 Tomahawk missiles in four weeks of war with Iran, raising concerns within the Pentagon about rapidly depleting stockpiles, The Washington Post reports.

The missiles are a key component of US strikes, allowing targets more than 1,600 kilometres away to be hit without putting pilots at risk.

However, production is limited to a few hundred a year, and replenishment can take up to two years. According to sources, the Pentagon is considering shifting stockpiles from other regions, including the Indo-Pacific, while also discussing increased production.

Some officials have described current stockpiles in the Middle East as low and warned of the risk of ammunition shortages. The situation has also raised concerns in Congress about how the conflict is being conducted and the risk of escalation, including the possible deployment of ground forces.

The Pentagon has not confirmed the number of missiles used, but says it has sufficient resources for its operations.

Advanced Tomahawks are equipped with satellite communications and GPS, can change targets mid-flight and provide engagement data. Each missile can cost up to $3.6 million. In recent years, they have been procured in relatively small numbers, with only 57 units included in last year’s defence budget.

Many of the more than 850 Tomahawks were fired in the opening days of Operation Epic Fury.

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