Key Points and Summary – The recent 12-day war between Israel and Iran exposed a “critical supply gap” in America’s most advanced missile defenses.
-The U.S. reportedly fired between 100 and 150 THAAD interceptors—costing nearly $2 billion—to help defend Israel, depleting as much as a quarter of its entire stockpile.
-The crisis is magnified by the fact that the U.S. only produces about 12 of these interceptors per year, meaning it would take over a decade to replace what was used.
-This unsustainable burn rate helps explain President Trump’s hesitancy to send similar advanced systems to Ukraine.
U.S. Missile Interceptor Supply Gap Exposed After Iran Strikes
The United States reportedly used as much as one quarter of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor missiles to help down missiles launched at Israel by Iran during the 12-day war.
Between 100 and 150 THAAD rockets, part of the United States’ most advanced and strategically important missile defense system, were used at a cost of roughly $12.7 million each – or almost $2 billion in total.
The news comes from reports by CNN and The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the cooperation. The revelation exposes a critical supply gap at a time when the White House is not only working to modernize its own forces, but also resuming arms shipments to Ukraine following a brief pause.
Reports suggest that the United States provided the rockets after learning that Israel was short on Arrow interceptors, with officials concerned that the country was only weeks away from running out. Israel, however, denied the reports.
Missile Questions: What Is THAAD?
The THAAD ballistic missile defense system, designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin, has been in service since 2008. The system is designed to intercept short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in their descent or reentry phase. Its missiles do not carry a warhead, instead relying on kinetic energy to destroy missiles before they reach their intended targets.
CNN reports that the United States produced only 11 THAAD interceptor missiles last year and is expected to produce just 12 more this year – far short of replacing the more than 150 expended during the recent conflict. With officials in Washington, Tehran, and Jerusalem all warning of the potential for renewed hostilities, replenishing these interceptors may now become a strategic priority for the U.S. Department of Defense. In the event of another large-scale exchange, THAAD could again prove vital for defending Israeli territory or shielding U.S. forces in the region, particularly at key sites such as the Al Udeid Air Base, which came under direct Iranian missile attack following Operation Midnight Hammer.
Is This Why Trump Is Hesitant To Help Ukraine?
While President Trump was initially reluctant to resume arms shipments and aid to Ukraine, believing Kyiv lacked the leverage to negotiate with Moscow and that early concessions could have ended the war. That strategy has so far failed to deliver a ceasefire. As President Trump moves to rearm Ukraine, concerns about dwindling U.S. stockpiles of sophisticated air-defense weaponry – especially systems like THAAD – have been exposed as a significant political constraint.
With Trump’s 50-day deadline for peace set to expire soon, with the president stating this week that he will shorten it, his administration has shifted tactics, focusing instead on selling weapons to Ukraine rather than donating them outright. Should Putin fail to agree to a peace deal in the coming weeks, Trump has promised to impose sweeping new sanctions on Russia and its global trading partners. In other words, Trump is doing everything he can to prevent further conflict overseas – whether in Iran or Ukraine – while attempting to preserve U.S. defense capabilities at home.
The use of over 150 THAAD interceptors during the Israel-Iran conflict has demonstrated just how quickly America’s most advanced weapons systems can be depleted. Trump himself has publicly argued that the U.S. must preserve advanced air defense capabilities for its own protection, raising doubts about how far Washington can go in sustaining Ukraine’s air defense needs without compromising its own readiness.
The Weapons Stockpile Challenge
And while weapons stockpiles are likely a key concern, President Trump has repeatedly emphasized his desire to end wars overseas – not escalate them. With no clear off-ramp in Iran or Ukraine, and no major diplomatic breakthroughs on the horizon, Trump is now navigating a complex balancing act of preserving U.S. military readiness, managing political risk, and shaping his legacy during a particularly volatile moment in global security.
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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Jim
July 28, 2025 at 3:06 pm
Good thing you discovered the U. S. depleted its surface to air interceptors in the 12 Day War.
Those not dependent on corporate, mainstream, media have known about the depletion for roughly a month or more, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio gave Congressional testimony several months ago about our low stocks of Patriots and the need to acquire Patriots from other countries… and now we know THAAD is depleted, too.
Of course, Kiev has also depleted our Patriot stocks, as well.
Warmongers put the United States at risk by their yahoo, warhawkism which wants war, but doesn’t have a clue about the actual logistics of war and our true status of being depleted by all the weapons passed off to Ukraine and Israel.
And, yes, Trump didn’t want to get into a regime change war against Iran, partially because of our low stocks of interceptor missiles, but also what it would do to the whole Middle East.
But also, Israel suffered pinpoint hits from hypersonic, variable flight path missiles on military & infrastructure targets.
So much, it caused Netanyahu to agree to a cease fir.
What we don’t know is how close it came to constituting an “existential threat” which could trigger Israel’s nuclear doctrine.
But something you and the readers need to face: Iran can hit and hurt Israel. The idea Israel has impunity from Iranian missiles is false and a dangerous conceit for Israel supporters… which I include myself, except I know the dangers to Israel… and I don’t dismiss those dangers.
Apparently, the author of the article doesn’t… that’s why he wants nuclear “mow the lawn” tactics used against Iran.
It’s reckless and puts Israel at risk… something I don’t want to see for Israel’s sake, the region, and the United States.
Those who are reckless warmongers are no patriots, in fact, they border on the opposite.
And need to be held to account.