US has exhausted billions of dollars worth of weapons stockpile in war on Iran: NYT report

Introduction

The United States has used substantial quantities of its most advanced munitions during its recent war with Iran, depleting stockpiles and raising concerns about military readiness against other potential adversaries, according to multiple reports published in April 2026. The reports, based on analyses by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), internal Pentagon assessments, and statements from defense officials, indicate that the conflict consumed critical missiles at rates that may take years to replenish.

Scale of Depletion

According to a report by The New York Times (NYT), the US has "drained much of its weapons stockpile" during the war, which began on February 28, 2026. The NYT, citing internal Defense Department estimates and congressional officials, reported that the US used over 1,200 Patriot interceptor missiles, each worth more than $4 million, and around 1,100 long-range stealth cruise missiles built for a war with China—close to the total number remaining in the stockpile. The newspaper also reported that over 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired, approximately ten times the US military's annual stock, and that over 1,000 Precision Strike and ATACMS ground-based missiles were used, "leaving inventories worryingly low."

A separate analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), reported by CNN on April 22, 2026, provided similar figures. The CSIS analysis assessed that the US has expended at least half of its inventory of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missiles, almost half of its Patriot air defense missiles, and at least 45% of its Precision Strike Missiles. The analysis also stated that approximately 30% of Tomahawk missiles, more than half of the stockpiled Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM), and around 20% of SM-3 and SM-6 missiles were used.

Sources familiar with classified Pentagon data told CNN that CSIS's numbers closely match the Pentagon's own assessments. A report from The Wall Street Journal, cited by TASS, indicated that the US used more than 1,000 long-range Tomahawk missiles and between 1,500 and 2,000 critically important interceptor missiles for air defense systems, including THAAD and Patriot.

Financial and Logistical Impact

The cost of the munitions expended is significant. The NYT, citing two independent groups, reported that the total expense of the war was between $28 billion and $35 billion, or "just under $1 billion a day." Defense officials told the NYT that the first two days of war alone used $5.6 billion worth of munitions. The NYT noted that the Pentagon is "still waiting for Congress to approve additional funding before it can pay manufacturers to replenish the military's drained supplies," despite the Trump administration announcing agreements with major defense contractors.

Readiness Concerns

The depletion of these stockpiles has raised concerns about the US military's ability to respond to other threats, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. Mark Cancian, a retired US Marine Corps Colonel and one of the authors of the CSIS analysis, told CNN that the depletion has "created a window of increased vulnerability in the western Pacific." He also told The New York Times, "The United States has many munitions with adequate inventories, but some critical ground-attack and missile-defense munitions were short before the war and are even shorter now." Chinese military observers, quoted by the South China Morning Post, echoed these concerns, stating that the depleted stockpile and limited production capacity "will be a critical vulnerability against stronger adversaries."

Replenishment Timeline

Estimates for replenishing the stockpiles vary. The CSIS analysis, as reported by CNN, suggests it may take three to five years to fully replenish the stockpile to pre-war levels, despite recent Pentagon contracts to expand missile production. The Wall Street Journal, cited by TASS, reported that fully replenishing the expended stockpiles could take up to six years. The exact timeline depends on production capacities and funding approval.

Official Response

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell denied that the reduction in stockpiles has compromised readiness, according to CNN. However, the reports indicate that the Pentagon is still scrambling to secure funding to replenish supplies. The NYT reported that officials acknowledged the existing situation had left the US military "less ready" to confront threats from Russia and China.

Conclusion

While the remaining stockpiles are likely sufficient for continued operations against Iran, the war has exposed vulnerabilities in US munitions inventories. As the CSIS analysis warns, "A war against a capable peer competitor like China will consume munitions at greater rates." The path to rebuilding these stockpiles will require sustained funding and industrial capacity, factors that remain in question as the Pentagon awaits congressional approval for additional resources.