Minus 25%! The US has exhausted a critical resource of its own interceptor missiles during the war between Israel and Ir

During the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June, the United States used about a quarter of its stock of THAAD interceptor missiles, CNN reports, citing two sources familiar with the operation, Focus writes.

In total, over 100, and possibly 150 missiles were launched, which significantly exceeds the rate of their production.

The US has seven THAAD systems, two of which are deployed in Israel. This intensity of use exposed weaknesses in the US missile defense system and depleted a critical resource at a time when support for Israel among the American public had fallen to a record low.

Last year, the US produced only 11 new THAAD missiles, and in 2026 12 more are expected to be produced. The Pentagon plans to buy 37 new missiles next year, funded in part by President Donald Trump's latest defense spending bill.

“The budget includes an additional $1.3 billion to improve the industrial supply chain and $2.5 billion to expand missile and munitions production,“ a Defense Department spokesman said.

However, experts stress that the acute shortage of systems, interceptors and manufacturing capacity could lead to serious consequences for the United States.

“Air defense is now relevant in all major theaters of war. And there are not enough systems. There are not enough interceptors. There is not enough manufacturing,“ emphasizes Mara Karlin, former assistant secretary of defense.

According to experts, the minimum number of missiles launched by the US at Iran is 80, with CNN confirming this figure, citing video footage of the attacks.

"The 12-day war in June of this year was actually the first significant expenditure of THAAD interceptor missiles. Israel achieved relative success in defending itself (with US help) against simple Iranian missiles - at the cost of exhausting its existing arsenals of interceptor missiles“, notes Timur Kadyshev, an analyst at the University of Hamburg.

The war between Israel and Iran

In June 2025, Israel carried out large-scale air strikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure. In response, Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at Israeli cities. The conflict lasted 12 days and ended with a ceasefire. More than 600 people died in Iran and about 30 in Israel.