US Patriot Missile Supplies Plummet Amid Ongoing Iran Conflict
WHO:
ABC News - President Donald Trump warned of renewed fighting with Iran.
CNN - Gen. Dan Caine is the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
CNN - Sean Parnell is the chief Pentagon spokesperson.
CNN - Mark Cancian is a defense analyst and retired Marine Corps Colonel at CSIS.
WHAT:
ABC News - U.S. stockpiles of Patriot interceptors have decreased by 65% since combat with Iran began.
ABC News - The U.S. stockpile of Patriot missiles is now as few as 759.
CNN - Fewer than 827 Patriot interceptors and fewer than 278 THAAD ballistic missile interceptors remain in U.S. stockpiles.
CNN - The pre-war stockpile of Patriots was estimated at around 2,200 and THAAD missiles at 452.
ABC News - The Pentagon is requesting $67 billion in supplemental funding to address munitions shortfalls.
CNN - The U.S. military has fired more than 60% of its key Patriot and THAAD interceptors during the conflict.
WHERE:
ABC News - The conflict involves the U.S. and Iran, with operations occurring in the Middle East.
CNN - U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is involved in assessing stockpiles.
WHEN:
ABC News - The conflict between the U.S. and Iran began on February 28.
ABC News - A previous report was released on April 8.
CNN - The Pentagon's supplemental funding request was discussed in a Senate appropriations hearing last week.
WHY:
ABC News - Trump stated that the U.S. inherited an insufficient inventory due to the Biden administration sending arms to Ukraine without replacing them.
CNN - The shortage of missiles could impact the U.S.'s ability to engage on other fronts.
HOW:
ABC News - The U.S. produces 183 Patriot interceptors a year, with a delivery time of approximately 3.5 years from contract signing.
CNN - The Defense Department has accelerated efforts to expand interceptor missile production, including recent deals to boost manufacturing.
(UPDATED July 29, 2026 23:20 UTC)
President Trump has issued a warning about the potential for renewed fighting with Iran, as the U.S. military has already fired more than 60% of its key Patriot and THAAD interceptors during the ongoing conflict that began on February 28. The Pentagon is now requesting $67 billion in supplemental funding to address significant munitions shortfalls, with current stockpiles of Patriot missiles dwindling to as few as 759. The Defense Department is working to accelerate production of interceptors, but Trump has criticized the Biden administration for leaving the U.S. with an insufficient inventory after sending arms to Ukraine without proper replacements.