US Faces Years-Long Wait to Rebuild Key Missile Stockpiles

The United States could face shortages of some key weapons in the event of a wider conflict, according to a new analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) reported by ABC News.

The US defense industry needs at least three years to replenish stocks of Tomahawk missiles and Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors, which were used extensively in the war with Iran.

According to the authors of the study, the US currently has enough munitions for a potential conflict with Iran, but depleted stocks could create risks in another crisis, especially in the Western Pacific. The main concern is a possible conflict with China, which continues to modernize its military and has repeatedly stressed its ambition to gain control of Taiwan.

The think-tank said the problem is no longer primarily one of money. President Donald Trump’s administration has proposed a record $1.5tn defense budget for 2027 and has significantly increased orders for advanced munitions. However, producing sophisticated missile systems takes time.

The Pentagon has dismissed concerns that the US military is unprepared for a potential conflict. Defense Department spokesman Sean Parnell said the armed forces have “everything they need to execute at the time and place of the President’s choosing”.

(max)