Reserve missiles for China spent in Iran war: America’s missile stock nearing exhaustion; ₹90 billion spent every day

America spent many of its important and expensive missiles in the 38-day war with Iran. These also include those missiles, which were kept safe for a big war like China. Now America’s weapons stockpile is decreasing rapidly. In this war, America used about 1100 long-range stealth missiles (JASSM-ER). These were specifically made for use against China. Apart from this, more than 1000 Tomahawk missiles, more than 1200 Patriot missiles and more than 1000 other strike missiles were also fired. This entire war cost 28 to 35 billion dollars. That means, about 1 billion dollars (about 90 billion rupees) was spent every day. It has been two weeks since the war stopped, but till now America has not told how many weapons were used. The ministry says that more than 13,000 targets were attacked. But according to officials, there were multiple attacks on the same target, so the actual number of weapons used is much higher. The stock of missiles decreased rapidly. The weapons most used by America during the war include long-range JASSM-ER missiles. These can hit a distance of more than 600 miles and are designed to attack by avoiding enemy air defense. Apart from this, Tomahawk missiles were also used on a large scale. About 10 times more missiles were spent in this war than America buys in a year. According to a study, America now has only about 3000 Tomahawk missiles left. Patriot interceptor missiles are also being phased out rapidly. The cost of one missile is about 4 million dollars. In 2025, America had made 600 missiles, but more than 1200 were used in the war. Apart from this, more than 1000 precision strike and ATACMS missiles have also been spent. According to the Pentagon, some essential weapons were already in short supply and now their shortage has increased further. The White House rejected the claims of running out of weapons. The White House has rejected the claims of running out of weapons as false. Press Secretary Carolyn Leavitt said that America has the strongest army in the world and has enough weapons. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell also declined to provide information about any specific area or weapons stock. He called it a security related matter. Weapons worth $5.6 billion were used in the first two days of the war. Apart from this, there was loss in some operations. The mission to extract the pilots from Iran involved the destruction of two MC-130 aircraft and three helicopters, which was estimated to be worth about $275 million. Weapons were also sent from Asia and Europe to the Middle East. Due to lack of weapons, America had to send its military resources from Asia and Europe to the Middle East. This has affected the preparedness of the army deployed there. Some weapons needed to protect NATO’s eastern border in Europe have been reduced. The impact is more visible in Asia also. The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Group was removed from the South China Sea and sent to the Middle East. Two marine units were also deployed there. Interceptors of THAAD missile system deployed in South Korea have also been removed from there for the first time. This system was installed to deal with the threat of North Korea. Even before this, America has been sending its ships and planes to the Middle East. Especially in 2023, deployment was increased after the Israel-Gaza war and Houthi attacks in Yemen. Last year, more than $1 billion was spent on the operation against Houthi alone. Filling the stock of weapons is a big challenge. Now the biggest challenge before America is to refill its stock of weapons. Jack Reed, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that at the current pace it may take several years to restore the stock. The Pentagon has signed 7-year agreements with companies like Lockheed Martin to increase production, but due to lack of money the work has not started yet. Defense expert Mark Cancian says that some essential missiles were already in short supply, which has now reduced further. This may increase pressure on America’s global military strategy.



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