US military commanders have expressed concern that transferring long-range precision weapons from the Asia-Pacific region to the Middle East could leave other regions vulnerable.
elchi reports that, according to US media, since the war began on February 28, the US has fired approximately 1,100 long-range stealth cruise missiles that were initially kept in reserve for potential operations against China.
Internal Department of Defense estimates and Congressional officials indicate that the depleted stockpiles include over 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles, Patriot interceptor missiles, and ground-launched Precision Strike and ATACMS missiles.
Although the military has been sourcing ammunition from bases in Asia and Europe to meet demand, this raises questions about preparedness for potential threats in those regions.
The report also highlights deep concerns regarding the military’s over-reliance on expensive missiles and whether the defense industry has the capacity to increase production quickly enough. The Department of Defense has warned that fully replenishing the stockpiles could take years.
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