America's Skies Are Defenseless

TEHRAN (Defapress) - Iran’s 22 waves of missiles in True Promise 3 Operation disrupted the supply chain of THAAD and SM-3 missiles, imposing a defensive ammunition famine on the Pentagon. The American newspaper The Wall Street Journal, in a report on the repercussions of Iran’s missile power in the Pentagon, revealed the extent of Iran’s crippling blow to U.S. national security during the 12-day war. The report shows that the Pentagon is no longer capable of defending American skies, and Iran has exposed this terrifying reality to the U.S. ruling establishment and all missile powers of the world by firing nearly 500 ballistic missiles.

According to Pentagon documents, during the 12-day imposed war between Israel and Iran in June 2025, more than 150 THAAD anti-ballistic missiles were fired by U.S. forces. This number is equivalent to about one-fourth of all THAAD missiles ordered or planned by the U.S. military to date. Additionally, the performance of 80 SM-3 missiles fired from U.S. Navy ships in this conflict was called into question.

Details of Missile Expenditure and Costs

According to The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed U.S. officials, American forces in this conflict, in addition to THAAD and SM-3 missiles, also used ground-based Patriot systems and SM-2 and SM-6 missiles launched from ships. U.S. officials were surprised by the high rate of THAAD missile consumption and stated that this number was fired to counter waves of Iranian ballistic missiles.

Based on the U.S. military’s 2026 budget request submitted in June, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has so far received the necessary funding to purchase 646 THAAD missiles, though the full delivery has not yet been completed. However, this statistic does not include orders from foreign customers mediated by the U.S. Additionally, over the past years, a number of these missiles have been used in tests and military exercises. The Missile Defense Agency has also requested funding in its next fiscal cycle to purchase 25 more THAAD missiles at an approximate cost of $15.5 million per missile.

The agency’s proposed budget also mentions the provision of 12 more THAAD missiles through a major appropriations bill, which was approved earlier this month.

Challenges in Missile Supply and Production

According to the Pentagon’s 2026 fiscal budget proposal, the U.S. military may need up to 4 years to secure funding to replace the THAAD missiles expended in June 2025. The long lead time between ordering and delivering missiles is also a serious challenge. For example, the Missile Defense Agency estimates that the first batch of the 13th order of THAAD missiles will be delivered in early 2027, 5 years after the contract was signed.

Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the THAAD system, is negotiating with the U.S. military to increase THAAD missile production capacity to a maximum of 100 per year, but implementing this plan will take time. During the recent war, the U.S. military had seven operational THAAD batteries, two of which were deployed in Israel. Each THAAD battery consists of 6 to 9 road-mobile launchers, each capable of carrying 8 missiles, and is equipped with AN/TPY-2 radars and other support equipment. Lockheed Martin also announced that it has delivered the minimum engagement package for the eighth THAAD battery to the U.S. government.

The Wall Street Journal also mentioned a temporary Pentagon plan that included transferring THAAD missiles purchased by Saudi Arabia to Israel. However, negotiations with Saudi Arabia faced complications due to the Saudi royal family’s concerns about potential threats to the country’s oil facilities.

Challenges with SM-3 Missiles and the Navy

During the 12-day war, U.S. warships fired approximately 80 SM-3 missiles. Admiral James Kilby, the acting U.S. Chief of Naval Operations, reported to Congress that the country’s warships were consuming their missiles at an alarming rate. Some U.S. defense officials also expressed concerns about the performance of SM-3 missiles, as several failed to intercept Iranian missiles. The U.S. military is closely examining each launch to identify potential issues. Notably, Iran for the first time used ballistic missiles with capabilities designed to counter missile defense systems, as well as missiles equipped with cluster warheads.

In addition to the SM-3 missiles’ failure to intercept Iranian projectiles, concerns have grown over their limited stockpile following extensive use in defending the Zionist regime. Raytheon, the manufacturer of these missiles, secured a $1 billion contract in May 2025 to produce the Block IB model. The Missile Defense Agency had previously intended to halt purchases of this model and focus on the more advanced but costlier Block IIA, priced at $37 million per missile, compared to the Block IB’s $12.5 million.

The high consumption of SM-3 and other naval munitions has caused severe shortages in replenishing Vertical Launch System (VLS) ammunition for ships at sea. This has forced U.S. warships to dock in allied ports for resupply, keeping them out of operational areas for days or weeks due to the long distances involved. Consequently, this reduces the operational capabilities of the ships and increases their vulnerability. Notably, even in relatively calm weather, loading missiles into ship launch cells is a technical challenge due to the constant motion of the vessels.

U.S. Military’s Strategic Concerns

The U.S. military’s concerns over dwindling stocks of air defense missiles and other critical munitions have grown due to military commitments in the Middle East and support for Ukraine against Russia. This situation highlights a serious challenge for the U.S. defense industry in ramping up production and ensuring a stable supply of munitions in the event of large-scale conflicts. For example, in the case of a war with China in the Pacific, demand for THAAD and SM-3 missiles would surge dramatically, as the threat of Chinese ballistic missiles would double the need for these defense systems.

The Wall Street Journal, concluding its report, pointed to the concerning state of current THAAD missile stockpiles and emphasized that any future U.S. military effort to ensure sufficient supplies of these munitions will require long-term planning and significant investment.