It will take years to shore up key US weapons used in Iran war

Key Points:

• A new analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) reveals that U.S. military contractors need at least three years to replenish stockpiles of Tomahawk cruise missiles, Patriot, and THAAD interceptors, which were heavily used in the Iran conflict, raising concerns about limited firepower in a potential war with China.
• Despite bipartisan Congressional support and historic defense budgets under the Trump and Biden administrations to boost munitions production, the report highlights that the main challenge is the time required to expand production capacity and rebuild inventories to desired levels.
• CSIS estimates it could take until late 2030 to fully replenish Tomahawk missiles, until the end of 2029 for THAAD interceptors, and mid-2029 for Patriot interceptors, with manufacturers like Raytheon and Lockheed Martin investing billions to increase production capabilities.
• The depletion of U.S. stockpiles is partly attributed to assumptions made post-Cold War about shorter conflicts, compounded by recent demands such as supplying Patriot systems to Ukraine, and the complex supply chains needed for advanced weapons production.
• While the current munitions gap creates a vulnerability for a potential Western Pacific conflict, CSIS notes that China's lack of recent combat experience may help preserve deterrence until U.S. inventories are restored.