US is running low on key air-defense missiles, report warns

America is running low on key air-defense missiles as interceptors are sent to the Middle East to defend Israel, sparking fears over the US’ preparedness for conflict. Standard Missiles used to protect Israel from incoming Iranian missiles and Houthi drones have been in high demand amid the widening conflict in the region.

This has led to a shortfall in crucial defensive weaponry that US officials say could leave the military vulnerable in a potential conflict in the Pacific. Officials told the Wall Street Journal the Pentagon now fears it could run through its stockpile of missiles faster than it can replace them.

The US has used more than 100 Standard Missiles since Hamas ‘ October 7 attacks into Israel last year, the officials noted. The US has provided Israel with support to defend against attacks brought in the wake of its retaliatory campaign against Hamas. Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthi rebels in Yemen and Iran are among the groups who have launched strikes into Israel since Hamas’ attack last October.

Standard Missile-3 (SM-3s) were reported to have been used in Israel’s defense against the Iranian attack in April, which saw drones and missiles pelt Israeli territory. A seven-year old girl was critically injured in the attack. Most recently, Iran fired 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel in revenge for an Israeli attack on Hezbollah and IRGC top brass, prompting an Israeli attack on Iran over the weekend, which sources claimed had been coordinated closely with the US.

Sabrina Singh, deputy Pentagon press secretary, told media unequivocally yesterday: ‘There was no US military role in Israel’s operation on Friday night. ‘In terms of “how much of a heads up did we get?”, I think from October 1st, when Iran launched that initial barrage of nearly 200 ballistic missiles, I think we said pretty much from right after that, we’re in close consultations with the Israelis.’

Israel may be pressed to defend itself against Iran a third time if its leaders escalate with another strike. But experts fear the US is ill-equipped to keep sending its shipborne missiles to Israel and stay battle-ready for its own potential conflicts elsewhere. ‘The U.S. has not developed a defense industrial base intended for a large-scale war of attrition in both Europe and the Middle East, while meeting its own readiness standards,’ Elias Yousif of the Stimson Center in Washington told the WSJ.

Raytheon announced earlier this month it had entered ‘full-rate production’ for Standard Missile-3 Block IIAs ‘amid increased demand for the product from the United States and allies partners’. The announcement was backed by a $1.9 billion award from the US Missile Defense Agency in July 2024, which will see missiles made for both the US and Japan. Raytheon reported that work under the contract is expected to be completed by 2031.

US Secretary of State for Defense, Lloyd Austin, called his counterpart in Israel last week to ‘reaffirm the United States’ ironclad commitment to Israel’s security and support for its right to defend itself,’ Ms Singh stressed on Monday. ‘The secretary also discussed the opportunities that now exist to use diplomacy to dial down tensions in the region, including a hostage release and ceasefire deal in Gaza and an agreement in Lebanon that allows civilians on both sides of the Blue Line to return safely to their homes.’

The US has continued to put pressure on Israel to de-escalate and find a solution to the ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza. The protracted conflict has seen more than 43,000 Palestinians killed, according to the Hamas-run Palestinian health ministry in Gaza. Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel killed 1,200 people, and more than 250 hostages were captured and taken into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Gaza’s war has kindled wider conflict in the Middle East, with Israel bombing Lebanon and sending forces into its south to disable Iran-backed Hezbollah, a Hamas ally.

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