US uses 25% of their high-performance fishing missiles in the Israel-Iran conflict
US uses 25% of their high-performance fishing missiles in the Israel-Iran conflict
The United States used around a quarter of their stock of Thaad rocket catching systems (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) during the 12-day war with Iran in June, two sources that are familiar with the operations. This was done at a pace that exceeds production and was used to successfully ward off attacks.
massive use of Thaad systems
troops reacted to Tehran's rocket fire by firing more than 100 Thaad systems-possibly even up to 150-which represents a significant part of the American inventory on this advanced air defense system. The United States has seven Thaad systems and used two of them during the conflict in Israel.
threats from missile defense deficiency
The use of such a large number of Thaad rockets in a short time revealed a gap in the US rocket defense network and reduced a valuable asset at a moment when the American public support for defense Has reached Israel's historical lows.
production bottlenecks and future prospects
Last year, the US government produced only 11 new Thaad missiles and is expected to receive only 12 more in this financial year, as the Ministry of Defense's budgets for 2026 show.
official opinion of the Pentagon
Pentagon spokesman Kingsley Wilson explained to questions about the Thaad stocks and the consumption of the interception systems during the 12-day conflict that the US military is "stronger than ever and everything is needed to carry out every mission anywhere and at any time". He also referred to the "Midnight Hammer" surgery and the complete breakdown of the nuclear skills of Iran as proof of the strength of the military options of the USA.
concerns about the security situation
However,experts and former US defense officers express concerns about the global security situation of the United States and the ability to quickly replenish the supplies. The reports on the consumption of Thaad missiles are worrying, said a missile defense expert who pursues the spending of the US government. "It is important to recognize the measure of the missions, especially in the defense of Israel," he added. The Defense Minister plans to significantly increase production and stock of Thaad rockets.
The military capacity of the United States
The United States plan to acquire 37 Thaad missiles next year, with some of the latest addition to President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill" being financed. The defense officer emphasized that the budget "prioritizes the financing of the defense industry" to ensure that the military has the best military options for every scenario.
bottlenecks and challenges in the Indo-Pacific
The challenges of the reduced defense capacity are particularly acute in the Indo-Pacific, where China tries to keep the US marine at a distance. Experts warn that a possible conflict in the region could heavily burden the US rocket camps.
conclusions
The 12-day confrontation has clearly shown the need to quickly regenerate the supplies of rocket catching systems and to increase the production rates dramatically. While the United States and Israel were able to intercept many Iranian rockets, the question of how they can react to these challenges in the future.
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