US Consumes Key Munitions in Iran War, Raising Concerns for Future China Conflict

The U.S. has extensively used precision-guided munitions in the war with Iran, which experts warn could weaken its preparedness for a potential future conflict with China.

Fri Apr 24 2026

Munitions Consumption in Iran War and Future Risks

The United States has expended hundreds of munitions in its war with Iran, striking over 13,000 targets before a fragile ceasefire was established. Experts assess that while there are sufficient stockpiles to continue the current fight, the long-term risk lies in future wars. Many of these heavily consumed munitions are considered essential for a conflict with China. Two experts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) reported that the U.S. military "heavily used" seven types of key munitions during 39 days of air and missile operations against Iran.

Depleted Stockpiles and Replenishment Time

CSIS researchers Mark Cancian and Chris Park emphasized that the war with Iran has further exacerbated the depletion of missile stockpiles, and additional time will be required to replenish them to a level sufficient for a potential war with China. They noted that even before the Iran conflict, stockpiles were considered inadequate for engaging a peer competitor. Specifically, for four types of munitions, more than half of the pre-war inventory may have been consumed. On the defense side, the U.S. had approximately 360 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor missiles before the war, but researchers estimate 190 to 290 of these were used during the conflict.

*Source: Business Insider Japan (2026-04-24)*

Tags: #US #Iran #China #Defense #Munitions