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highplainsdem

(62,191 posts)
Wed Mar 4, 2026, 04:49 PM Mar 4

US could run out of key missiles within days, warns ex-adviser

Source: Times (UK)

The US could run out of interceptor stocks in “a matter of days”, according to Winnefeld, a former vice-chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

-snip-

“There is also an economic disparity between shooting down a $20,000 Shahed drone with a $4 million missile. You start to run out very quickly and you’ll run out of those Patriots probably before Iran runs out of Shaheds.”

It has emerged that General Dan Caine, the head of the US military and chairman of the joint chiefs, privately warned Trump about serious shortages in interceptor stocks just before the strikes started, which significantly increased the risk to American personnel.

-snip-

He said: “One way you could envision this ending is that Oman and Qatar, both of whom are close to the Iranians, step in and negotiate something where Trump is allowed to declare victory before he runs out of ammunition. Iran agrees to not enrich or export anything that it’s already enriched.”

-snip-

Read more: https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/us-missile-interceptors-iran-war-stocks-qxgxzx57l

15 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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sarisataka

(22,695 posts)
5. Remember Ukraine was getting hammered hard
Wed Mar 4, 2026, 05:15 PM
Mar 4

Until we sent them expensive weapon systems?

The ripple effects of dwindling supplies will be felt outside of the Middle East

LetMyPeopleVote

(179,906 posts)
6. Trump's burned through FIVE YEARS worth of Tomahawk inventory in THREE DAYS,
Wed Mar 4, 2026, 06:09 PM
Mar 4

trump is using up the US inventory of weapons at a scary pace



womanofthehills

(10,988 posts)
8. That article says $4 million dollar missile - Patriot
Wed Mar 4, 2026, 07:08 PM
Mar 4

Interceptor. We only make 600 a yr.

The THAAD interceptor missiles are $15 million for one missile and we only made 7-8 a month. Plus to make money, we sold most of our stock to Saudi Arabia.

We basically left our bases with few interceptors.

Bayard

(29,718 posts)
9. All the money that DOGE saved us, plus the tariffs, should pay for them
Wed Mar 4, 2026, 07:36 PM
Mar 4

Right? He shouldn't have to come strong arm Congress for more money to kill people.

How much is Israel contributing?

NowsTheTime

(1,314 posts)
13. Just ran across it. It's hard to tell what to believe. But I see I need to check wiki before I post stuff. Thanks!
Fri Mar 6, 2026, 08:50 PM
Mar 6

Deminpenn

(17,509 posts)
14. That's a usage of 80 Tomahawks a year
Sat Mar 7, 2026, 12:42 AM
Mar 7

or about 7 a month.

400 in 3 days is about 130 a day times 30 days in a month means production would need to be about 3900 a month! To make 130 a day working 24/7, the manufacturer would need to build over 5 per hour.

Even at 1000 a year, that's a 10+ fold increase per month. There's no way LM or Raytheon will even be able to get their parts inventories up enough to produce those quantities. It's also worth noting that most defense contractors rely on just-in-time inventory availability so they don't have cost associated with keeping a lot of inventory on the books.

RussBLib

(10,637 posts)
15. ...and then Caine goes in front of reporters to say...
Sat Mar 7, 2026, 12:49 AM
Mar 7

...we have enough munitions to extend this war for as long as we need to.

Lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies

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