Western Military Arsenals Face Critical Shortage of Interceptor Missiles
· World · Hindustan Times, The Economist, France 24
Ukraine's air defense capabilities are increasingly strained as the country runs low on Patriot interceptors while facing frequent Russian ballistic and hypersonic missile strikes. The shortage is not limited to Ukraine, as the US military has reportedly exhausted nearly two-thirds of its pre-war Patriot stockpile during recent conflicts in the Middle East. Lockheed Martin has indicated that it cannot guarantee delivery timelines for foreign clients due to the Pentagon's authority to divert supplies. Studies from the Heritage Foundation suggest that the US would deplete its remaining interceptors within days if forced to engage in a conflict with China. The Centre for Strategic and International Studies estimates that rebuilding these munitions stocks to pre-war levels will take until 2029.
Why it matters
The depletion of interceptor missiles limits the military readiness of the US and its allies, potentially compromising air defense capabilities in critical regions like the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific.
Read the original report — Hindustan Times
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