Pentagon faces shortage of air-defence missiles as demand surges WSJ report

The escalating crisis in the Middle East has led to a significant increase in demand for anti-missile systems.

The Pentagon is reportedly running low on various types of air defence missiles, raising concerns about U.S. military readiness, Caliber.Az reports via The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

Among the most sought-after munitions are Standard ship-to-air missiles, which are crucial for protecting U.S. forces in Israel from Iranian missile attacks and Houthi strikes against vessels in the Red Sea. Since the recent escalation began in October 2023, the U.S. has launched over 100 of these projectiles, although the Defense Department has not disclosed its current stockpile.

Sources within the WSJ indicate that the Pentagon is apprehensive about depleting its reserves faster than they can be replenished, potentially compromising U.S. capabilities in a future Pacific conflict. Increasing production has proven challenging, as defence contractors are often hesitant to invest in scaling up production without a firm commitment from the Pentagon for additional orders.

RTX, the manufacturer of the Standard missiles, reportedly has the capacity to produce only a few hundred missiles annually. In addition to U.S. demand, at least 14 allied nations are also purchasing these projectiles.

The WSJ estimates that since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the U.S. has deployed anti-missiles valued at over $1.8 billion. To ensure effective interception, U.S. forces typically launch two anti-missiles for each target, which can be costly, particularly against Iranian-made weapons that are significantly cheaper.

Earlier this month, ahead of Israel's retaliatory actions against Iran, the Pentagon dispatched the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to Israel, enabling the use of different interceptors beyond Standard Missiles to enhance Israel's defensive capabilities. The Pentagon also relocated additional Patriot missile-defence systems to the Middle East, necessitating adjustments in its limited inventory to address both Middle Eastern and Ukrainian demands.

Pentagon officials have stated their intention to maintain current production levels of Standard Missiles, though some older variants may face cuts to fund the development of newer systems.

Mark Montgomery, a retired rear admiral and current senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, expressed concern that the extensive use of interceptors in the Middle East is jeopardizing the Pentagon's ability to effectively engage in the Pacific.

He remarked, “We’re expending a year’s worth of Standard Missiles—missiles that should be part of our rearmament strategy for China. Thus, 100% we have, once again, in the Middle East, set back Navy readiness to execute operations in the Pacific.”

By Tamilla Hasanova