Politico: Australia raises concern about running out of US missiles

Australia is accelerating efforts to expand its domestic munitions industry as the war in Iran puts growing pressure on US weapons stockpiles and raises concerns that deliveries to American allies could be delayed, Politico reports.

The outlet says Canberra heavily relies on US-made weapons as it prepares for a potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific. However, the prospect of Washington having to replenish its own depleted stocks before fulfilling foreign orders is increasing pressure on Australia and other allies to strengthen their domestic missile production capabilities.

A study by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) found that by May, 39 days into the conflict, the US had fired more than 1,000 Tomahawk missiles, with production unlikely to keep pace with consumption.

Charles Edel, Australia chair at CSIS, said the war in Iran was “putting an enormous strain” on US stockpiles and was “likely extending the timeline to replenish them.”

“This will put missile deliveries to allies like Australia at a growing risk of delay — potentially exposing gaps in their defenses,” he told POLITICO.

Coalition defence spokesperson James Paterson also said the wars in Ukraine, Gaza and Iran had contributed to a global shortage of munitions, leaving countries facing a “very long queue to be resupplied.”

“If a high intensity conflict broke out in the Indo-Pacific, Australia would be dangerously exposed with limited stocks of munitions for strike and interceptors for air and missile defense, or the ability to manufacture them at scale,” Paterson noted.

Former US military officials have also urged Canberra to prepare for a possible shortage of American weapons if a conflict over Taiwan were to spread to Australia. They say the country should accelerate the development of a domestic industry producing military underwater drones.

Edel claimed that the strain on US munitions stocks extended across a range of weapons, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, THAAD interceptors, Patriot missiles, SM-6 ship-based surface-to-air missiles, JASSM and Precision Strike Missiles.

Weapons being used against Iran, including Tomahawk missiles, JASSM and PrSM, could be critical in a conflict involving attacks on Chinese ships, missile launchers and air-defence systems.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov