Ousted general warned of years-long missile defense shortage before Iran war

Key Points:

• In December 2025, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George warned of critical shortages in missile defense munitions, specifically Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) batteries and Patriot missiles, with shortages expected to persist until 2030 due to transfers to Ukraine, use in Israel, and reduced industrial capacity.
• The U.S. has depleted significant portions of its missile defense stockpiles amid the ongoing war with Iran, using up to 61% of Patriot interceptors and 82% of THAAD interceptors, with replenishment deliveries lagging behind consumption rates.
• Production capacity for these key missile defense systems is limited, with Lockheed Martin aiming to quadruple THAAD interceptor output, but current manufacturing timelines mean it could take until 2030 to restore stockpiles to prewar levels.
• The Pentagon disputes claims of munitions shortages, asserting the U.S. retains sufficient capabilities to conduct operations and defend interests globally, while the defense industrial base struggles to surge production due to decades of consolidation and procurement decisions favoring other military assets.
• The Global Force Management Allocation Plan governs the distribution of troops and weapons worldwide, but ongoing conflicts and competing regional demands complicate resource allocation, contributing to the strain on missile defense inventories.