[Business Post] U.S. military stockpiles have been sharply reduced by the war with Iran, and analysts say rebuilding them will take years.
The Associated Press, citing a report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), reported on the 28th (local time) that inventories of Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles, Patriot interceptors and THAAD ballistic-missile interceptors have been severely depleted.
CSIS warned that because the United States has expended large quantities of those weapons in the Iran conflict, it could face shortages if another military confrontation occurs.
“The United States has the financial capacity, but it does not have the time,” CSIS wrote, adding that it will take years for inventories to return to pre-war levels.
The think tank estimated that Tomahawk stockpiles will not be restored to previous levels until late 2030.
Tomahawk production currently runs at fewer than 200 missiles a year, while U.S. forces have already used more than 1,000 in the Iran war.
In response, Raytheon — one of the four major global U.S. defense contractors — has set a goal to produce more than 1,000 Tomahawks annually.
The AP reported that Raytheon has invested tens of billions of dollars to boost output, including expanding production facilities in Alabama and Arizona.
CSIS projects that 290 THAAD missiles will be produced only by late 2029, and that 1,000 Patriot missiles will not be available until mid-2029.
Lockheed Martin, the nation’s largest defense contractor, is accelerating efforts to increase production of THAAD and Patriot systems.
In a press release posted on its website on the 14th, Lockheed Martin said it plans to invest 120 trillion–135 trillion KRW (approximately $90–101.25 billion) by 2030 to ramp up missile production and is expanding and adding facilities while diversifying suppliers for key components.
By Yoo Ja-inn
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