"I'm not particularly worried about us actually running out during this conflict. It's about deterring China and Russia the day after this conflict is over. The U.S. is using both systems to take down Iranian missiles fired in retaliation for the American and Israeli attacks, but U.S. officials have said they are struggling to stop waves of drones launched by the Islamic Republic."
"The system known as Merops also is cheaper than firing a missile that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars at a drone that costs less than $50,000. Missile defense systems are under the most strain, according to experts, with Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, interceptors in high demand in Ukraine and Israel, respectively."
The U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran have exposed vulnerabilities in American weapons production and stockpiles. Missile defense systems, particularly Patriot and THAAD interceptors, are experiencing high demand across multiple theaters including Ukraine and Israel. While the Trump administration claims sufficient weapons exist for current operations and has announced defense contractors will quadruple production, experts express concern about long-term deterrence capabilities. The military is deploying cost-effective alternatives like the Merops anti-drone system to address drone threats, as traditional missile interception proves expensive against low-cost targets. Democratic lawmakers question the strategic necessity of the conflict, while defense analysts focus on post-conflict readiness against China and Russia.
Read at Fortune
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