Meanwhile the Petrodollar Empire is Outta Interceptors
Congressional Budget Office says Iran war has severely depleted US missile interceptors
The United States has used between half and two-thirds of its inventory of several key missile-defence interceptors amid operations in the Middle East, with the war on Iran accelerating the depletion, Reuters reports, citing the Congressional Budget Office.
The estimate covers Patriot, THAAD, SM-3 and SM-6 interceptors. The federal agency said rebuilding those stockpiles could take at least five years, even if production rates increase.
According to Reuters, the office estimated that replacing missile-defence interceptors would cost about $13.1bn, part of a wider $21.7bn bill for replenishing munitions. Another $7.3bn would be needed to replace land-attack cruise missiles.
The Congressional Budget Office, which provides cost analyses for US lawmakers, said the depletion leaves fewer interceptors available for a potential future conflict. Reuters noted that the calculation is an estimate because the Defence Department does not publicly disclose the size of its interceptor inventories.
Meanwhile the Petrodollar Empire is Outta Interceptors
Congressional Budget Office says Iran war has severely depleted US missile interceptors
The United States has used between half and two-thirds of its inventory of several key missile-defence interceptors amid operations in the Middle East, with the war on Iran accelerating the depletion, Reuters reports, citing the Congressional Budget Office.
The estimate covers Patriot, THAAD, SM-3 and SM-6 interceptors. The federal agency said rebuilding those stockpiles could take at least five years, even if production rates increase.
According to Reuters, the office estimated that replacing missile-defence interceptors would cost about $13.1bn, part of a wider $21.7bn bill for replenishing munitions. Another $7.3bn would be needed to replace land-attack cruise missiles.
The Congressional Budget Office, which provides cost analyses for US lawmakers, said the depletion leaves fewer interceptors available for a potential future conflict. Reuters noted that the calculation is an estimate because the Defence Department does not publicly disclose the size of its interceptor inventories.