Rebuilding U.S. Missile Inventory: A Multiyear Project
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Rebuilding U.S. Missile Inventory: A Multiyear Project
Photo: U.S. Central Command Public Affairs/DVIDS
Commentary<br>by
Mark F. Cancian<br>and<br>Chris H. Park
Published May 27, 2026
Remote Visualization
Table of Contents
Many Years to Replace: Tomahawk, THAAD, and Patriot
Several Years to Replace: Standard Missiles
Months to Replace: JASSM and PrSM
On Estimating Munitions Deliveries: Technical Note
The Future of Munitions Inventories
The 39-day bombing and air defense campaign against Iran depleted inventories of key U.S. munitions stockpiles, as a previous CSIS analysis detailed. The United States has enough munitions for any plausible scenario in the Iran war, but the depleted inventories have created a window of vulnerability for a potential Western Pacific conflict. The time needed to rebuild those inventories has thus become a major concern.<br>Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that it will take “months and years . . . depending on the weapon system” to replenish U.S. inventories. CSIS analysis supports the secretary’s assessment. Table 1 shows replacement times for seven key munitions heavily used during the Iran War that would also be needed for a Western Pacific war. Under the current delivery projections:<br>Land Attack Missile (TLAM) , Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) , and Patriot —heavily used in this war—will take three or more years from today to return to prewar inventory levels.<br>Standard Missiles (SM-3 and SM-6) will take around two years. These naval missiles were not used as heavily.<br>Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) will take several months to a year to replace. The prewar PrSM inventory was low because the system had just begun production. JASSM, though heavily used, will see large deliveries from recent procurements.
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Mark F. Cancian
Senior Adviser, Defense and Security Department
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Chris H. Park
Research Associate, Arleigh A. Burke Chair in...