Iran missile barrage puts US interceptor stocks under strain
Mar 1st 2026
Iran’s Feb. 28 attacks highlight how limited stocks of missile interceptors could constrain US and allied defenses after intense combat with Tehran last year.
- Iran launched ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones in retaliation for Israeli strikes in June 2025.
- Intercepted projectiles targeted the US base at Erbil International Airport on Feb. 28, 2026.
- The US, Israel and Gulf Arab states rely on systems such as Patriot, THAAD and naval interceptors that were heavily used in 2025.
- Depleted interceptor inventories could limit defenses against sustained barrages and force difficult allocation decisions.