The United States has significantly drawn down its stock of JASSM-ER stealth cruise missiles during military operations in Iran, raising concerns about the sustainability of its arsenal. Reports indicate that approximately two-thirds of the total inventory has been expended, with production rates unable to keep pace with the current demand.
In late March, a directive was issued to transfer these missiles, each valued at $1.5 million, from Pacific bases to Central Command facilities and the British base at Fairford. Following these transfers, the U.S. will have around 425 operational JASSM-ER missiles remaining from a pre-war total of 2,300.
This remaining stock is sufficient for only one large-scale sortie involving 17 B-1B bombers. In the initial four weeks of the conflict, U.S. aircraft launched over 1,000 of these missiles, which have a range exceeding 600 miles (approximately 960 kilometers). This capability allows for strikes on fortified targets deep within Iran while remaining outside the reach of its air defense systems.
The Pentagon now faces a critical challenge regarding the replenishment of its missile inventory. Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the JASSM-ER, has a maximum production capacity of 860 missiles per year. Given that more than 1,000 missiles were used in just one month of operations, it may take years to restore the stockpile. This situation could potentially impact U.S. defense readiness and its ability to engage in military actions against other adversaries, such as China.
The U.S. military has significantly depleted its JASSM-ER missile stockpile during operations in Iran, with production rates lagging behind usage. This depletion raises concerns about future military readiness and the ability to respond to other global threats.