The United States has depleted much of its stockpile of long-range precision missiles following five months of military operations against Iran, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter, raising concerns over the country’s readiness for potential future conflicts.
Reuters reports that three sources said the US Army has used “virtually all” of its inventory of Army Tactical Missile Systems, ATACMS, and Precision Strike Missiles, PrSM, two of its most advanced surface-to-surface weapons.
The extent of the depletion has not previously been reported.
ATACMS and PrSM are regarded as key components of the U.S. military’s long-range strike capability, enabling forces to hit targets accurately from significant distances.
While ATACMS has also been supplied to Ukraine for strikes against Russian targets, the newer PrSM is designed to replace it with greater range and improved capabilities.
The reported decline in missile stockpiles comes as President Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran, launched alongside Israel in February, enters its fifth month despite earlier expectations that the conflict would be brief.
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, warned that the dwindling supply of precision-guided munitions could affect Washington’s ability to deter potential adversaries such as Russia and China.
They also suggested that any renewed large-scale military action against Iran could force the U.S. to rely more heavily on piloted airstrikes.
The sources did not disclose how many ATACMS or PrSM missiles remain in the U.S. arsenal.
However, another source familiar with the matter said the U.S. military remains capable of replenishing supplies. According to the source, the U.S. Central Command has continued to restock its missile inventory by drawing from military stockpiles located around the world.
Responding to concerns over the reported depletion, President Trump said U.S. defence manufacturers were producing munitions at record levels while expanding production facilities.
In a statement issued by the White House, Trump insisted that the United States still possesses “far more munitions than anyone in the world” and “far more than we need.”
US runs low on long-range precision missiles after months of Iran war