The U.S. Isn’t Making Enough Weapons
The U.S. is facing a significant munitions shortage following prolonged hostilities with Iran, raising concerns about the country's industrial capacity to sustain modern warfare. The reliance on expensive, high-tech defense systems against low-cost drones has exposed vulnerabilities in the current military strategy.
Why it matters
This highlights a critical national security issue regarding defense manufacturing and the potential need for allies to reconsider their reliance on U.S. military equipment.
Allies that depend on U.S. military equipment need a Plan B.
Christopher Furlong / Getty August 3, 2026, 6:56 AM ET Share Save Although the United States has been the world’s preeminent military power for decades, it apparently cannot fight a regional power such as Iran for more than a few months before experiencing an armaments crisis. Since hostilities with Tehran began on February 28, the U.S. has reportedly used up two-thirds of its Patriot missile interceptors , more than a third of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors, and a third or more of its prewar stock of Tomahawk cruise missiles. The rate of consumption is all the more striking because a shaky cease-fire had halted most fighting for months. Based on recent production patterns, replenishing the supply of weaponry will take several years.
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