US munitions supplies run dangerously low amid Iran conflict

The United States military is facing a munitions crisis that defense planners have quietly worried about for years. Five months into an active shooting war with Iran, those fears are materializing in real time. Operation Epic Fury, which commenced on February 28, 2026, has driven American missile and interceptor stockpiles to levels that several analysts describe as critically low. The pace of consumption has outrun the pace of production by a wide margin, and the gap is widening. The numbers are stark The US military has expended at least half of its Patriot interceptor stockpile since the conflict began. THAAD interceptors are in worse shape, with up to 80% of available stocks already used. Long-range precision munitions tell an even grimmer story: assessments suggest only about 20% of pre-war stocks remain on hand. Reports indicate that virtually all PrSM and ATACMS long-range missiles have been consumed, with Tomahawk cruise missile inventories also significantly drawn down. The first 39 days of the operation were particularly punishing on inventories. Early high-intensity strikes are standard military practice, but the sheer volume of munitions used in that opening phase compr...