CNN: US used up to 150 THAAD interceptors during Israel-Iran war

The United States expended nearly a quarter of its THAAD missile interceptor inventory during Israel’s 12-day war with Iran in June, prompting renewed concern over the country’s missile defence capabilities and production capacity, according to two sources familiar with the operation.

More than 100 – and possibly as many as 150 – THAADs (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense interceptors) were launched by US forces to counter Tehran’s barrage of ballistic missiles. The operation marked one of the largest and fastest deployments of the high-end missile defence system in recent history, with two of America’s seven THAAD systems engaged in Israel during the conflict, sources tell CNN, Caliber.Az cites. 

The sudden drawdown of interceptors exposed a critical vulnerability in the US missile defence network and highlighted a growing gap between missile defence requirements and production output, which remains limited. 

According to the Department of Defense’s 2026 budget estimates, the US produced only 11 new THAAD interceptors last year and expects to receive just 12 more in the current fiscal year.

Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson, addressing questions on the THAAD expenditure and current inventory, stated: “The US military is the strongest it has even been and has everything it needs to conduct any mission anywhere, anytime, all around the world. If you need further proof, look no further than Operation Midnight Hammer and the total obliteration of Iran’s nuclear capabilities.”

However, CNN has reported that an early intelligence assessment following the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites last month suggested the attack did not destroy the core infrastructure of the nuclear program and likely only delayed it by several months. The US administration dismissed this assessment, while the CIA later claimed Iran’s program had been “severely damaged.”

Although the Pentagon declined to provide specifics on current THAAD inventory for operational security reasons, a defence official confirmed that the department “remains postured to respond to any threat.”

The Wall Street Journal was the first to report the scale of THAAD usage in the conflict. Despite the extensive deployment of the interceptors, dozens of Iranian missiles still managed to reach Israeli territory.

Each THAAD battery, operated by 95 US soldiers, comprises six launchers and 48 interceptors. Designed to destroy short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their final flight phase, THAAD is a mobile system that engages threats both inside and outside the Earth’s atmosphere. Each interceptor, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, costs approximately $12.7 million, according to the 2025 Missile Defense Agency budget.

The US plans to procure 37 THAAD interceptors in 2026, as outlined in the Defense Department’s budget, partially funded by President Donald Trump’s newly proposed “big, beautiful bill.”

“The budget includes an additional $1.3 billion for industrial based supply chain improvements, and an additional $2.5 billion for missiles and munitions production expansion,” a defence official said. “The Department’s role is to ensure that the President is armed with the best possible military options for any scenario – and all options remain on the table.”

Experts and former defence officials say this may not be enough.

“It is important to recognize the level of commitment and the level of expenditure here in defense of Israel is significant,” said a missile defence expert who has been tracking the US government’s expenditure.

“The reports about THAAD expenditure are concerning. This is not the sort of thing that the US can afford to continue to do on and on,” he added. “It was a major commitment to our Israeli ally, but missile defense interceptor capacity is definitely a concern, and THAAD is a very scarce resource.”

A retired senior US Army officer, who asked not to be named, confirmed that around 25% of the total THAAD inventory was used during the 12-day war.

“The (Department of Defense) is looking at wartime stockage levels of critical munitions and attempting to significantly increase annual production capacity, an effort that is long overdue,” the source said.

Concerns about interceptor stockpile levels existed well before the latest conflict, according to four former senior US defence officials. They noted that the problem is particularly acute when it comes to high-end interceptors considered essential for deterring potential threats from China.

“What I can say without giving any numbers is I was surprised at how low some of the levels of readiness were,” said one former defence official who left his post within the past year.

“Stockpiles are dropping. We need more. We need them faster than they are being built,” said the same ex-official.

“This is a concern. It was a concern during the Biden administration. I’m sure it’s a concern now during the Trump administration,” said a former senior Biden-era defence official.

“Air defense is relevant in all of the major theaters right now. And there’s not enough systems. There’s not enough interceptors. There’s not enough production and there are not enough people working on it,” said Mara Karlin, former US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities under Biden.

“You have the challenge of something being both incredibly relevant and also there’s a dearth of them,” she added.

According to Lockheed Martin, nine THAAD batteries are active globally. The US currently operates seven and plans to activate an eighth by 2025. Based on 2019 data, five US THAAD batteries were located in Texas, with one each in Guam and South Korea. By 2024, the Pentagon had moved two of the systems to the Middle East to defend Israel. Two additional THAAD batteries were previously delivered to the United Arab Emirates, where they have been used to intercept ballistic missiles launched by Houthi militants.

By Sabina Mammadli