US Uses 80% THAAD Missiles, Patriot Stockpile Under Pressure (Img: Pinterest)
Washington: The war that the US is waging against Iran seems to have caused strain on the missile defence capacities of the US, which uses many of its advanced interceptors during the war.
As per the report, the US military has used almost 80 percent of the interceptors of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system and more than half of its Patriot missile interceptors since the war started.
The development is causing concern among defence experts regarding the availability of air defence weapons with rising tension in West Asia.
Based on estimates from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the US possessed some 452 THAAD missiles and roughly 2,200 Patriot interceptors of their latest versions before the war started.
A significant number of long-range precision surface-to-air missiles were apparently deployed by the US Army during the military exercises.
Previously, it was reported that the US had made use of considerable numbers of Tomahawk cruise missiles in the initial stage of the Iran war.
According to CNN sources, fears about dwindling missile reserves were some of the issues discussed by the advisers while deliberating on taking any more military action against Iran.
It is reported that some of the Gulf nations where there are US bases also had fears regarding their defenses against any potential missile and drones attacks by the Iranians in the event of escalation of the US operations.
Limited availability of interceptors was another concern.
The White House has refuted rumors that the US military may be experiencing an ammunition shortage.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly has stated that there is enough supply of ammunition for America's president to achieve his military goals and that the government will continue to support the manufacturing of American weapons.
The depletion of missile interceptors raises issues concerning the increasing military dilemmas that the US and other allied nations are having to cope with in light of the ever-growing tensions in West Asia.
The situation has raised questions relating to military preparedness and the capability to produce weapons.
