Navy Without Ammunition… Pentagon Seeks Help from Saudi Stockpiles
NYN | Reports and Analyses
The Wall Street Journal revealed in an extensive report yesterday an unprecedented depletion of U.S. missile defense systems, following the recent 12-day war with Iran, which also spilled over into fronts in Yemen, the Red Sea, and Israel.
According to the newspaper, operators of the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system used up nearly a quarter of their interceptor missile stockpile during the conflict, raising serious concerns within Pentagon decision-making circles.
An American official told the Journal that the Department of Defense seriously considered reallocating THAAD missiles originally designated for Saudi Arabia to U.S. bases inside Israel, in an attempt to compensate for the growing shortage.
Military planners explained that U.S. defense systems are no longer sufficient in a world where cheap ballistic missiles have become the most widespread and effective weapon. They pointed to major logistical challenges in reloading operations—especially since the U.S. Navy still lacks a reliable system to reload missiles at sea.
The report added that the Navy, on multiple occasions, was forced to return ships to ports in the Mediterranean and Red Sea after running out of interceptor missiles—creating critical gaps in defensive coverage during operations.
The Journal noted that Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the THAAD system, is unable to produce more than 100 missiles per year. Experts on the defense procurement budget said that re-supplying fielded systems could take over a year.
In the same context, officers from U.S. air defense units pointed out that deploying 5 out of 7 THAAD systems outside U.S. territory—including two in Israel, two in Guam and South Korea, and one in Saudi Arabia—has placed U.S. forces under operational stress.
Despite Israel possessing a multi-layered missile defense system, the report showed it is now facing a real shortage of interceptor missiles due to increasing attacks from Yemen and other regional fronts.
The Wall Street Journal emphasized that one of the most pressing challenges in the current situation is the U.S. need for vast quantities of interceptor missiles—placing immense pressure on supply chains and manufacturing capabilities, especially in a multi-front conflict.
