image sourced from original article at The United States could face shortages of key interceptor missiles if military strikes on Iran continue for more than 10 days, according to a report citing defense officials. While President Donald Trump has said the country has a virtually unlimited supply of munitions, defense leaders have warned that a prolonged campaign would strain existing stockpiles and carry significant financial and strategic risks.
American forces have deployed a wide range of aircraft, drones, naval vessels and missile systems in the operation. During a previous 12 day conflict between Israel and Iran, the United States used more than 150 advanced missile interceptors, roughly a quarter of its total supply at the time. High end defense systems are designed for short, intense conflicts and can be depleted quickly during sustained attacks, especially when intercepting lower cost missiles.
Experts say the United States could increase weapons production or shift interceptors from other regions, but doing so may weaken defenses elsewhere, including in Europe and the Indo Pacific. The financial cost of operations is also rising rapidly, with hundreds of millions of dollars reportedly spent in the first days of the campaign and millions more required each day to operate carrier strike groups and other assets.
