American officials confirm: during the hostilities against Iran, the United States has already used over 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles and up to 2,000 anti-aircraft missiles.
American officials reported that since the beginning of the conflict against Iran, the United States has already used over 1,000 long-range Tomahawk missiles and up to 2,000 air defense missiles. Such large-scale consumption of munitions raises serious concerns among administration officials. They increasingly express the opinion that the U.S. may be unable to fully defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion in the near future.
Depletion of Arsenal
According to American officials, since February 28, the date the war with Iran began, the U.S. has deployed over 1,000 long-range Tomahawk missiles. Additionally, between 1,500 and 2,000 critically important air defense missiles have been fired, including interceptors for THAAD, Patriot, and Standard Missile systems. Complete replenishment of these stocks may take up to six years.
Such significant expenditures on munitions have sparked active discussions within the administration. The need to adjust operational plans is being discussed in case the President orders the military to defend Taiwan.
Geopolitical Realities and Risks
Officials note that there are currently no direct signs of conflict with China. Chinese leader Xi Jinping is preparing for an important summit with Trump in Beijing next month. Additionally, there is a purge among generals in the Chinese armed forces.
However, if a conflict does arise in the near future, the U.S. will face a serious ammunition shortage. This could potentially put American troops at increased risk.
Solutions to the Problem
At the same time, other administration officials express confidence in the possibility of reducing the timelines for munitions replacement. They see the solution in significant investments in the defense industrial base. There are also proposals to actively develop the production of inexpensive munitions.
