US depleted quarter of THAAD interceptors during 12-day war with Iran: Report

Each THAAD interceptor costs approximately $12.7 million, as reflected in the 2025 Missile Defense Agency budget

The United States expended roughly a quarter of its total stockpile of advanced THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) missile interceptors during the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June, according to a CNN report citing two sources familiar with the matter.

More than 100 — and possibly up to 150 — THAAD interceptors were launched by American forces to intercept waves of Iranian ballistic missiles, CNN noted. The use of such a high volume of these costly and technologically advanced munitions in such a short window raised alarm among defense analysts, particularly given the comparatively slow pace of replenishment. The US currently operates seven THAAD batteries and deployed two of them to support Israeli defenses during the fighting.

According to CNN, this rapid consumption exposed a critical vulnerability in the U.S. missile defense architecture and highlighted a strategic challenge: maintaining sufficient stockpiles of high-end missile defense systems amid escalating global tensions. Public sentiment in the U.S. toward continued support for Israel is also at a historic low, adding a layer of political complexity to the military commitment.

Former Pentagon officials and missile defense experts told CNN that this unexpected drawdown has sparked broader concerns about the United States’ ability to quickly rebuild its interceptor inventory — a matter that could impact military readiness in other regions. In fiscal year 2023, the U.S. added only 11 new THAAD interceptors, and projections for 2024 suggest only 12 more are expected, based on Department of Defense budget estimates obtained by CNN.

When questioned about the depleted THAAD inventory, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson told CNN that the U.S. military remains fully capable and globally responsive: “The U.S. military is the strongest it has ever been and has everything it needs to conduct any mission anywhere, anytime, all around the world,” Wilson said, referencing the recent Operation Midnight Hammer, which he claimed successfully neutralized Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

However, CNN reported that an initial intelligence assessment concluded the strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites only temporarily disrupted the program, delaying progress by mere months. While the Biden administration dismissed that early analysis, the CIA later stated that Iran’s nuclear capabilities had suffered “severe damage.”

Due to operational security, a U.S. defense official declined to disclose the precise number of THAAD interceptors remaining but assured CNN that the Department of Defense is “postured to respond to any threat.”

Despite the extensive use of THAAD interceptors during the conflict, CNN reported that multiple Iranian missiles still managed to breach Israeli airspace and cause damage — raising further questions about the effectiveness of even the most advanced missile defense platforms under sustained attack.

THAAD, produced by Lockheed Martin, is designed to intercept short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their final phase of flight, either inside or outside the atmosphere. Each THAAD unit is operated by 95 personnel and includes six launchers carrying a total of 48 interceptors. According to CNN, each interceptor costs approximately $12.7 million, as reflected in the 2025 Missile Defense Agency budget.

The initial report on the volume of THAAD interceptors used in the conflict was first made public by The Wall Street Journal, as noted by CNN.