Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command (Centcom), stated on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, that he is "not concerned at all" about U.S. munition stockpiles. His comments followed reports from analysts and anonymous government sources suggesting that the U.S. military has depleted inventories of certain missiles and interceptors during a monthslong conflict with Iran.
The conflict began in February 2026 under President Donald Trump. Since then, the U.S. and Iran have engaged in periodic strikes, including a Sunday report from Iranian state media of an unidentified projectile striking a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Defense analysts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) reported that the U.S. had used approximately 65% of its Patriot missile interceptors and roughly 38% to 50% of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) supply as of late July.
During a CBS News interview, Cooper stated the U.S. is "armed and ready for any contingency" despite these reported drawdowns. Two sources told Reuters that the Army has used "virtually all" of its Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and newer Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM). A U.S. official who spoke to ABC News described the remaining stockpiles of certain interceptors as "extremely low," noting each can cost approximately $4 million and take up to two years to manufacture. President Trump has disputed reports of shortages, stating in September that the U.S. has "virtually unlimited" mid- to high-grade munitions and that production has reached record levels.
The scale of the reported shortage is notable. CSIS data indicates Patriot missile interceptor stocks fell from 2,330 to between 759 and 827 by late July 2026. Similarly, the THAAD interceptor count dropped from 452 at the start of the conflict to between 234 and 278 by late July. One source reported that the U.S. has also used a little less than half of its global supply of ship-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles. While President Trump stated that production is at record levels, industry experts told The Hill that rebuilding these inventories to pre-conflict levels will likely take several years.
These shortages create what analysts call a "China problem," suggesting that a diminished arsenal limits the U.S. military's ability to deter or engage in a potential conflict with Beijing. The Pentagon has already taken steps to address the supply gap, signing a deal in August 2026 with Northrop Grumman to increase production of THAAD and Patriot interceptors, while Raytheon has reached a tentative agreement to boost Tomahawk production. However, until these production lines deliver new hardware, military planners must weigh the trade-offs of using remaining high-end munitions in the ongoing Middle East conflict versus holding them for future contingencies.
What happens next involves the continued monitoring of the Strait of Hormuz and potential new offensive campaigns. The Trump administration has not yet requested a formal declaration of war or authorization for use of military force from Congress. Weapons sales to allies are expected to resume soon according to statements made by the President on Truth Social. The Pentagon’s supplemental funding requests and long-term production contracts will determine how quickly the military can exit what analysts described as a "danger level" for readiness in a conflict with China.