Gulf Interceptor Shortage Deepens as Iran War Drains Patriot and THAAD

Operation Epic Fury has consumed a substantial share of U.S. Patriot and THAAD interceptor inventories, according to outside analyses based on reported launches and estimated stock levels. One widely cited assessment suggests the campaign may have used up to 67 percent of available Patriot missiles and nearly half of THAAD stocks, although the figures are estimates rather than official Pentagon counts. Replenishment takes years and competing requirements span the Middle East, Europe and the Indo-Pacific, intensifying pressure to reserve costly interceptors for the most dangerous targets and expand lower-cost defenses against drones.